Press Release:

Drs. Marvin Slepian and Jack Copeland

TUCSON, Ariz. – Nov. 21, 2007 – On Nov. 17, Drs. Marvin Slepian and Jack Copeland, co-founders of artificial heart manufacturer SynCardia Systems, Inc., led SynCardia’s cycling team to promote cardiovascular health in America’s largest perimeter bicycle race, the 25th Annual El Tour de Tucson.

Dr. Slepian, an interventional cardiologist at University Medical Center (UMC) and SynCardia’s chairman and chief scientific and medical officer, captained the 40-member team. Team SynCardia consists of friends and supporters of SynCardia, which manufactures the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t). The team is represented by a wide cross-section of riders:

• Dr. Copeland: One of the world’s most respected cardiothoracic surgeons, Copeland has cycled in more than 15 El Tours and was named by the Arizona Daily Star as one of the Top 25 El Tour Personalities. Copeland made history in August 1985, when he became the first surgeon to successfully use the artificial heart as a bridge to human heart transplant.

• Tyler and Mimi Ford: Tyler is the son of SynCardia CEO and President Rodger Ford. Tyler and his wife Mimi won the tandem 109-mile race last year, and also made the list of Top 25 El Tour Personalities.

• Bill Wohl: Wohl was a CardioWest™ artificial heart recipient in 1999. He was successfully bridged to a human heart transplant after 159 days on the artificial heart. Since receiving his donor heart in February 2000, Wohl has competed in Transplant Games all over the world in swimming, track and cycling. Wohl looks forward to El Tour each year, riding with Dr. Copeland and the other doctors who saved his life.

• Steve Langford: SynCardia’s Vice President of Clinical Support, Langford has been working with the artificial heart since 1985 when it was originally known as the Jarvik 7.

El Tour’s silver anniversary was marked by UMC’s first year as the title sponsor of the event. UMC is one of 22 heart centers worldwide certified to implant the CardioWest artificial heart.

###

About the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart
SynCardia Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is the privately-held manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure. There have been more than 950 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 230 patient years of life.

Similar to a heart transplant, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves, eliminating the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure. Unlike a donor heart, the Total Artificial Heart is immediately available at SynCardia Certified Centers and does not require expensive anti-rejection medication, which can cause subsequent complications. It is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 liters per minute through both ventricles. This high volume of safe blood flow helps speed the recovery of vital organs, helping make the patient a better transplant candidate.

SynCardia Ranked #20 Among World's 50 Most Innovative Companies
In March 2011, Fast Company magazine ranked SynCardia #20 in its annual list of the "World's 50 Most Innovative Companies" for "giving mobility to artificial heart recipients." Weighing 13.5 pounds, SynCardia's Freedom® portable driver is the world's first wearable driver designed to power the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital. The Freedom driver is CE approved for use in Europe and undergoing an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the U.S.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.syncardia.com
Like SynCardia on Facebook
Follow SynCardia on Twitter – @SynCardia
Connect with SynCardia on LinkedIn

Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660