Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE:PEN), a global interventional therapies company, today announced a series of events in New York City aimed to raise awareness for stroke treatment, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the company’s initial public offering. Stroke remains an undertreated disease, and the events aim to bring attention to the importance of getting patients to hospitals in time for endovascular treatment.

Together with stroke patients who represent over 20 U.S. states and were treated with the Penumbra System®, the company will participate in the following events:

  • Stroke Awareness Day at Yankee Stadium – Sept. 28: Penumbra will sponsor a stroke treatment awareness event organized by The Joe Niekro Foundation™ during the Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. The Joe Niekro Foundation™ is committed to supporting stroke patients and families, research, treatment and awareness. The event will pay tribute to and honor stroke patients with the goal of highlighting the importance of timely treatment. Stroke patients will be recognized on the field before the game and a public service announcement will be shared as part of the event.
  • NYSE Bell Ringing – Sept. 29: To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Penumbra’s initial public offering, the company and the New York Stock Exchange are inviting stroke patients to ring the opening bell.
  • A Cerebral Affair – Sept. 29: Penumbra is a platinum sponsor of the “A Cerebral Affair” fundraising gala, hosted by The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation and The Joe Niekro Foundation™. The event aims to benefit awareness and research for brain aneurysms, a potential cause for hemorrhagic stroke.

“Penumbra is honored to bring patients together from all over the country to draw attention to the critical issue that treatable stroke patients need to get to the right hospitals for access to endovascular stroke treatment,” said Adam Elsesser, chairman and chief executive officer of Penumbra. “When these patients get to the right hospital, the benefit can be profound and life changing for the patients and their families.”

Important Facts about Stroke and Stroke Treatment

  • About every four minutes, one American dies from a stroke – a brain attack caused by a ruptured or blocked artery.
  • Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.
  • Advances in stroke treatments – including endovascular treatment, which acts like a minimally invasive “vacuum” to remove the blood clot inside the blocked artery in the brain – are leading to better survival and quality of life.
  • Only about 10 percent of patients receive endovascular treatment because others don’t arrive in time to the right stroke centers that offer the procedure.
  • Several published studies, including the landmark MR CLEAN study in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that endovascular treatment is a superior treatment option compared to the clot-busting drug tPA.
  • By knowing the signs of stroke and acting F-A-S-T (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call 911), stroke victims can get timely treatment and are twice as likely to survive.

About Penumbra

Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global interventional therapies company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices. The company has a broad portfolio of products that address challenging medical conditions and significant clinical needs across two major markets, neuro and peripheral vascular. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals primarily through its direct sales organization in the U.S., most of Europe, Canada and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. Penumbra, Penumbra System and the Penumbra logo are trademarks of Penumbra, Inc. For further information, please visit www.penumbrainc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, certain statements in this press release are forward-looking in nature and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us. Our business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those projected by any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to: failure to sustain or grow profitability or generate positive cash flows; failure to effectively introduce and market new products; delays in product introductions; significant competition; inability to further penetrate our current customer base, expand our user base and increase the frequency of use of our products by our customers; inability to achieve or maintain satisfactory pricing and margins; manufacturing difficulties; permanent write-downs or write-offs of our inventory; product defects or failures; unfavorable outcomes in clinical trials; inability to maintain our culture as we grow; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and potential adverse regulatory actions. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. There may be additional risks of which we are not presently aware or that we currently believe are immaterial which could have an adverse impact on our business. Any forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions regarding future events and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. We make no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may change.

Note to Editors: Interviews with stroke patients are available. Images and a PSA video will be available following the events.

Source: Penumbra, Inc.