TERUMO ENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON SCIENTIFIC

Japanese device firm Terumo has announced it is ending a 15-year relationship with Boston Scientific and will launch a new direct sales, marketing, and distribution strategy in the U.S. and Latin America for its vascular interventional products.

The vascular interventions market is surging 12 percent annually, said Terumo, which seeks to expand its presence in all markets with particular focus on the U.S. -- a market that accounts for roughly 50 percent of all interventional products sold worldwide.

The move demonstrates Terumo's commitment to addressing the growing demands of this market, said Jim Rushworth, vice president and general manager of Terumo Interventional Systems. "We have developed robust distribution, supply and service capabilities from over 30 years of experience in serving many diverse segments of the medical device market -- we are simply applying those capabilities to our interventional business to better service our customers."

The new strategy goes into effect April 1, 2006. On that date, Terumo Interventional Systems and Terumo Latin American will take over from Boston Scientific the marketing, sales, distribution and service of Terumo's line of interventional vascular products, including its Glidewire hydrophilic coated guidewires; Glidecath hydrophilic coated catheters; and Pinnacle introducer sheaths.

Terumo's announcement comes as Boston Scientific is in talks with Guidant to acquire the cardiac device manufacturer for $25 billion.