SIS and Ziemer Group take over Marketing of the AMADEUS II® Microkeratome from AMO

Ziemer Group AG

(March/April 2007) – Ziemer Group AG of Port, Switzerland, and AMO Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (Santa Ana, Ca, USA) have announced that Ziemer Group will take over from AMO the responsibility for worldwide marketing, sales and support activities for the AMADEUS II automated microkeratome and all related accessories and consumables. Engineered and manufactured by SIS Surgical Instrument Systems Ltd., a Ziemer Group Company, the AMADEUS product line had been marketed and distributed by AMO (and formerly by Allergan) under an exclusive marketing agreement with SIS since its original launch in 1999.

"AMO have been doing a tremendous job making the AMADEUS one of the most popular and successful microkeratomes in the world market. At this stage, I would like to thank AMO for the successful distribution of the AMADEUS® product family to date.", says Frank Ziemer, President and CEO of Ziemer Group and of SIS Ltd.. "But as Ziemer has in the meantime developed its own marketing and distribution organization with a worldwide distribution network, we are now in a position to offer our customers a powerful and effective sales and support network with shorter and more efficient communication lines between manufacturer and end-user. We can assure AMO’s customers that we will provide a seamless transition and will do our utmost to be a competent and responsive partner."

While AMO, after the recent acquisition of Intralase Corp., has decided to focus its offering of refractive products for creating LASIK flaps entirely on femtolaser technology, Ziemer Group will now be the only company in the ophthalmology marketplace offering its customers the choice of state-of-the-art blade-based and laser-based dissection technologies. Ziemer believes that both technologies are complementary rather than competitive. "While the comprehensive refractive surgeon will perform a significant part of all refractive procedures using Femto-LASIK, many surgical situations will require surface ablation or other blade-based techniques. A powerful microkeratome with epi-LASIK and lamellar keratoplasty capabilities like the AMADEUS will therefore remain an indispensable tool and fall-back alternative in every refractive clinic for a long time to come" explains Dr. Tony Wirthlin, Vice President of Marketing with Ziemer Group. "We will be single-source supplier for microkeratome and femtolaser, and as such we will not be trying to influence the customer in making an either-or decision but rather make it easy and economical for refractive surgeons to acquire and use the complete armamentarium."

AMO has encouraged its distributors who have been handling the AMADEUS, to continue selling and supporting the product and to enter into a distribution agreement with Ziemer. Ziemer will in the coming weeks and months set up distribution agreements with former or new distributors in all countries where there is any demand for AMADEUS. As soon as all the relevant details have been arranged, Ziemer Group will contact all AMADEUS customers directly about their future contact for AMADEUS support. This information will of course also be available from the Ziemer Group Corporate website: www.ziemergroup.com.

AMADEUS II LASIK and epi-LASIK Wetlab at ASCRS exhibition

(March 2007) The phenomenal success of the AMADEUS microkeratome continues with the AMADEUS II, due to its expanded functionality, optimized handling and safety, and the consistent high quality of lamellar incisions reported by users. The AMADEUS II® is now available as the only Comprehensive Microkeratome System in the market, with optional accessories such as the SurfaceSeparator™ for epi-LASIK, and the Artificial Anterior Chamber and Lamellar Keratoplasty BladeHolders for a wide variety of corneal surgery applications. Ziemer will demonstrate the AMADEUS II system and offer free wetlab training for LASIK, epi-LASIK, and lamellar procedures at the ASCRS in San Diego, CA (April 28 – May 1, 2007). AMADEUS II is manufactured by SIS, a Ziemer Group Company, and marketed exclusively by Ziemer.