REDWOOD CITY, CA (February 25, 2011) – Avinger, Inc., medical device manufacturer of innovative, multi-functional catheters for treating patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), announced that it will double the size of its sales force over the next several months by adding an additional 15 sales professionals. The company is preparing for an acceleration of growth following the successful achievement of key milestones.

Avinger will continue developing the next generation of its commercialized products, Wildcat and Kittycat, which are indicated for use as guidewire support catheters. In March, Avinger plans to complete enrollment of its 88-patient CONNECT clinical trial which is intended to evaluate Wildcat's ability to cross chronic total occlusions in femoropopliteal lesions. The expanded sales force will enable further reach into new locations throughout the U.S. to help treat more patients suffering from PAD, a disease that currently affects between 8 to 12 million adults and is the leading cause of amputation in patients over 50.

Avinger founder and CEO, John B. Simpson, PhD, MD, commented, "I am really excited about the future at Avinger. We are developing some really impressive technology and we are expanding our sales force so we can deliver this innovation to physicians who are treating patients who need it the most."

The company is also preparing to complete development of its optical coherence tomography (OCT) products that will allow for real-time visualization within the artery. Following a successful first-in-man feasibility trial in Poland in August of 2010, Avinger expects to begin a U.S.-based clinical trial of its first OCT product, Ocelot, in the second quarter of 2011.

In January, the company closed a $25 million Series B funding round led by a syndicate of private investors.

Interested sales candidates should inquire at hr@avinger.com.

ABOUT AVINGER

Founded in 2007 by renowned cardiologist and medical device entrepreneur Dr. John B. Simpson, Avinger develops next-generation catheter-based technologies for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Leveraging core competencies in medical device catheter engineering and intravascular imaging, Avinger markets the Wildcat and Kittycat guidewire support catheters, and is currently developing advanced technologies that guide endovascular therapy and intervention with real-time imaging capability. www.avinger.com

Contact

J.D. Simpson

Vice President, Commercial Operations
Phone: +1 650 363 2400
jd@avinger.com

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