Allergan to jointly promote its adjustable gastric band for bariatric surgery with Covidien

Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the extension of its agreement with Allergan, Inc. to jointly promote Allergan’s LAP-BAND^® System, the top-selling adjustable gastric band for bariatric surgery, in the United States.

“At Covidien, we seek to be the partner of choice, collaborating with bariatric professionals, leading researchers and industry partners such as Allergan to provide innovative options for resolving diabetes and significantly reducing obesity”

Covidien’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative surgical devices, which includes a full line of surgical staplers and instrumentation used for minimally invasive bariatric surgery, is further enhanced with the LAP-BAND System. Additionally, Covidien offers surgeon and nurse education programs, customized consulting services and patient education programs for bariatric surgery – all aimed at continuously improving patient outcomes.

“At Covidien, we seek to be the partner of choice, collaborating with bariatric professionals, leading researchers and industry partners such as Allergan to provide innovative options for resolving diabetes and significantly reducing obesity,” said Jerry Liebrand, President of Covidien’s U.S. Surgical Devices business. “We are focused on offering a full range of surgical options and services to surgeons so that patients can improve their overall health through bariatric surgery. The LAP-BAND program, one of the many exciting initiatives we have under way for 2010, is an important part of our ongoing commitment to bariatrics.”

“Given the growing obesity epidemic and its known correlation to life-threatening diseases, Allergan, as the leader in the gastric banding industry, continues to invest in resources and programs to ensure widespread awareness and access to the LAP-BAND System,” said Jim Caggiano, Vice President of Health Sales and Marketing, Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. “The continuation of our co-promotion agreement with Covidien underscores our leadership position, as it provides us with the opportunity to expand our field sales force efforts and further progress our work to educate and train surgeons regarding the benefits of the LAP-BAND System.”

The new agreement builds on a successful platform of products, training and services that the two companies offer to the bariatric professional community and patients, including:

• Covidien’s innovative endomechanical surgical devices used in concert with Allergan’s advanced gastric banding system to provide bariatric surgeons with state-of-the-art technology;
• Extensive product-based in-servicing and operating room support for bariatric surgeons across the country, provided by Covidien’s and Allergan’s highly trained sales forces;
• Widespread consumer programs focused on educating the public about morbid obesity and its correlation to life-threatening diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and about the need for and availability of surgical treatment options;
• Collaboration with leading bariatric surgeons to advance single-incision adjustable gastric banding procedures using Covidien’s groundbreaking devices for SILS^TM;
• Covidien’s and Allergan’s bariatric practice support programs, which have helped surgical practices nationwide achieve Center of Excellence certification and implement best practices;
• Professional training in basic LAP-BAND System procedures and the newer SILS technique, co-sponsored by Covidien and Allergan.