Sphere Medical Holding Regulatory News (SPHR)

16 September 2014

Sphere Medical Holding plc

Miniature in-line blood gas analyser launched at AAGBI 2014

- Proxima supports rapid and frequent bedside blood gas measurements at critical times

Cambridge, UK, 16 September 2014: Sphere Medical Holding plc (AIM: SPHR.L) ("Sphere" or "Sphere Medical" or the "Company"), a leading provider of innovative monitoring and diagnostic devices for the critical care setting, will launch Proxima, its cutting edge in-line patient dedicated arterial blood gas analyser, at the AAGBI Annual Congress 2014 (Stand 27), Harrogate, 17-19th September. The new CE marked Proxima miniaturised blood gas analyser uniquely delivers rapid and frequent results at a patient's bedside to enable faster response and more proactive critical care.

At the AAGBI 2014 Annual Congress, Sphere Medical will be sponsoring an industry seminar where Dr. Tom Clutton-Brock will be presenting on 'True Point of Care Testing'. To be held at 10.35am and 13.40pm on Thursday 18th September, the seminar will discuss the challenges of maintaining control of patient physiology in the ITU. In particular he will focus on the frequency of arterial blood sample testing ideally required and associated limitations such as staff time involved, costs and blood conservation. He will also consider how matters might change if these limitations were removed.

Dr Wolfgang Rencken, CEO of Sphere Medical, said: "We are delighted to announce the commercial launch of Proxima in to the UK market, our first marketed product. Frequent measurement of arterial blood samples is a key component in the effective management of patients in the critical care environment, particularly those that are unstable. Proxima keeps the care giver by the patient, conserves blood and rapidly returns blood gas results to aid early decision making and closer control of therapy for critically ill patients - all of which ultimately improve patient outcomes."

Commenting on the clinical importance of Proxima, Dr. Tom Clutton-Brock, Senior Lecturer Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Birmingham, said: "Rapid return of data and swift response to changing blood gases is as essential in patient care as the continual measurement of blood pressure. Fast feedback and response could have a real impact on efficiently stabilising patients or weaning them from mechanical ventilation."

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Notes for Editors

About Proxima

CE marked and specifically designed for critical care environments, the Proxima System incorporates a dedicated bedside monitor and the Proxima Sensor that is integrated into a patient's arterial line. This enables blood to be measured directly at the point of care without need to leave the patient or manipulate samples and cartridges which can all add to the workload of front line care staff. Measured to laboratory analyser accuracy, results are rapidly displayed on the bedside monitor and can be electronically transferred for permanent record.

Simple to use, the in-line Proxima System enables closed blood sampling and is operated via the touch screen interface of its bedside monitor. When a blood gas analysis is required, blood is withdrawn from the patient directly into the Proxima Sensor without the need to open the line, take a sample and walk away from the patient for analysis. Once analysis is completed, all blood is returned to the patient, thereby ensuring blood conservation and reducing the possibility of hospital acquired anaemia and subsequent transfusions.

A Proxima Sensor is a disposable transducer which can be used for monitoring blood gases and electrolytes over a 72 hour period as many times as required. The system also carries out all quality control checks that would be undertaken on a traditional blood gas analyser to ensure validity of test results. It also includes a facility to be challenged with liquid controls.

About Sphere Medical (AIM: SPHR.L) 

Sphere Medical is a medical device company developing a range of innovative monitoring and diagnostic devices designed to significantly improve patient care.

Sphere Medical's vision is to become a leading solution provider to the critical care market offering innovative, near real time, point of care diagnostic and monitoring products to enable closer control of therapeutic response and improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall cost of care.

Sphere Medical's strategy is focused on developing the Proxima platform for measuring blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites and partnering on the development of the Pelorus platform for measuring drug levels in blood.

The Company plans to sell its products directly to the critical care market, which includes the ICU and OR, with dedicated field sales forces in the UK, Germany and Benelux, and work with partners for worldwide distribution.

Sphere Medical's products deliver near real time analysis of blood gases, electrolytes and drug levels with laboratory accuracy, at the patient's bedside. Sphere Medical's products can be used in a wide range of medical applications, enabling faster clinical decision making and improved patient outcomes, whilst reducing costs for healthcare payers.

Sphere Medical entered into a collaboration agreement with Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. in 2013 for the development of Proxima and enhancement of Sphere's operational and production capabilities.

Sphere Medical has a number of partnerships with industry leading medical device companies and has received a strategic investment from Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (now part of Carlyle Group). Other significant investors include Life Sciences Partners (LSP Life Sciences Fund).

For further information, please visit www.spheremedical.com