Neovasc Launches Reducer in Select European Countries

NASDAQ: NVCN
TSX: NVC

VANCOUVER, March 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Neovasc Inc. ("Neovasc" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: NVCN) (TSX: NVC) today announced the Neovasc Reducer™ has been introduced to select centers in Italy and will shortly be available for routine use at additional sites in Germany, the UK and Switzerland. The first two Italian cases were performed by Dr. Antonio Colombo, Director, Cardiac Cath Lab and Interventional Cardiology Unit, EMO GVM Centro Cuore, Columbus and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

The Reducer treats refractory angina, a painful and debilitating condition that occurs when the coronary arteries deliver an inadequate supply of blood to the heart muscle, despite treatment with standard revascularization or cardiac drug therapies. It affects millions of patients worldwide, who typically lead severely restricted lives as a result of their disabling symptoms. The Reducer alters blood flow in the heart's circulatory system, thereby increasing the perfusion of oxygenated blood to ischemic areas of the heart muscle. Placement of the Reducer is performed using a minimally invasive transvenous procedure that can be completed in approximately 30 minutes.

"The recent publication of the positive trial results in the New England Journal of Medicine has bolstered significant interest in this technology to provide relief of symptoms in these patients suffering from chronic angina that can no longer be managed using conventional therapies," commented Neovasc CEO, Alexei Marko. "Today's announcement is an initial step in our broader commercial plans to build a strong platform for Reducer, ensuring its availability to physicians across Europe for the routine treatment of refractory angina."

Dr. Colombo reported his initial procedural experience with Reducer as straightforward and that this therapy is a significant addition to the treatment of patients with refractory angina. To support the commercial launch across Europe, Neovasc is initiating a multinational European Post Market Study, "Reducer-I" to collect long-term clinical data on patients treated with Reducer.

About Neovasc Inc. 
Neovasc is a specialty medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets products for the rapidly growing cardiovascular marketplace. Its products in development include the Tiara™, for the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve disease and the Neovasc Reducer™ for the treatment of refractory angina. The Company also sells a line of advanced biological tissue products that are used as key components in third-party medical products including transcatheter heart valves. For more information, visit: www.neovasc.com.

Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," "believes," "may," "continues," "estimates," "expects," and "will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates; the potential benefits of the Neovasc Reducer™ and Tiara™; the Company's receipt of any required local and institutional approvals, European enrollment and the success of applications in Europe; our anticipated use of proceeds from any financings, a history of losses and lack of and uncertainty of revenues, receipt of regulatory approval of product candidates, ability to properly integrate newly acquired businesses, technology changes; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; and other factors referenced in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. No assurances can be given as to the future results, approvals or achievements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE Neovasc Inc.

Investor Relations: Neovasc Inc., Chris Clark, 604 248-4138, [email protected]