PHYX Physiometrix (MM)

Hospira Completes Physiometrix Acquisition -- Purchase Furthers Hospira's Strategic Focus on Increased Patient Safety and Improved Hospital Productivity -- LAKE FOREST, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE:HSP), one of the largest hospital products manufacturers in the United States, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Physiometrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:PHYX), a Massachusetts-based developer of non-invasive medical devices. Hospira announced plans to acquire Physiometrix in June for approximately $23 million in cash plus the repayment of the company's bank debt of approximately $1 million. "The acquisition of Physiometrix is a milestone in our efforts to expand Hospira's leadership position in patient safety," said John Arnott, senior vice president, Global Commercial Operations, Hospira. "With the increasing importance of sedation monitoring in the hospital, Physiometrix's products will continue to be key during surgical and diagnostic procedures. We are also excited about the longer-term development potential for the technology platform." Physiometrix's technology provides a measure of the effects of a patient's response to anesthetic agents. This enables anesthesiologists to more precisely administer an appropriate dose of anesthesia, which potentially minimizes the risk of under- or over-medicating a patient, thereby reducing probable side effects. By doing so, this may help speed a patient's recovery and hospital discharge. The company's portfolio includes the PSA 4000, an easy-to-use, real-time EEG (electroencephalogram), or brain-state monitor, that aids in evaluating the effects of anesthetic agents; and the SEDLine(TM) monitor (previously known as the PSA 5000), a next-generation platform with an improved ergonomic design and enhanced user-interface. The launch of the SEDLine device is targeted for this year. About Hospira Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM) by developing, manufacturing and marketing products that help improve the productivity, safety and efficacy of patient care. With 70 years of service to the hospital industry, Hospira's portfolio includes one of the industry's broadest lines of generic acute-care injectables, which help address the high cost of proprietary pharmaceuticals in hospitals; integrated solutions for medication management and infusion therapy; and the leading U.S. injectable contract manufacturing business. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., north of Chicago, Hospira has approximately 13,000 employees and 14 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Hospira's news releases and other information can be found at http://www.hospira.com/. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Hospira cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Hospira's operations and may cause actual results to be materially different from expectations include the risks and uncertainties set forth under the heading "Item 1 Business -- Risk Factors" in Hospira's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference. Hospira undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040503/HSPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Hospira, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Tareta Adams, +1-224-212-2535, or Financial Community, Lynn McHugh, +1-224-212-2363, both of Hospira Web site: http://www.hospira.com/

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