According to Millennium Research Group's (Toronto) Global Markets for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Treatment Devices 2008 report, more than 32,000 electrophysiology (EP) procedures were performed for the treatment of AF in the U.S. in 2007. AF EP procedures will increase in number at a compound annual growth rate of over 25% from 2008 to 2012, according to the report.

Procedure growth will be driven by the increasing physician acceptance of EP ablation as an effective treatment for AF. Over the next several years, these procedures will be used more often over medical therapy than in the past. The introduction of new technology will also support greater procedure volumes through 2012; these new devices will enable physicians to increase the safety, efficiency, and efficacy of EP ablation catheter procedures.

By 2012, more than 109,000 EP procedures will be performed to treat AF in the U.S.

Response to move headquarters

Response Biomedical (Vancouver) said that it plans to move to its new global headquarters located at 1781 - 75th Avenue West, Vancouver, British Columbia on March 31.

The 46,000-square-foot, single-occupant, specialized-use facility was designed and constructed for development and GMP manufacturing and distribution of point-of-care (POC) medical diagnostic test kits.

Response makes rapid point-of-care tests for use with its portable RAMP platform for clinical and environmental applications.

Isolagen receives Amex notice

Isolagen (Exton, Pennsylvania) said that it received notice from the Amex advising the company that it does not meet certain of the continued listing standards as set forth in Part 10 of the Amex company guide.

Amex notified the company that it was not in compliance with sections 1003 (a)(i)-(iii) of the Amex company guide.

In order to maintain its listing, the company intends to submit a plan to the exchange by April 14 that will outline the company's strategy to bring itself back into compliance by Sept. 14, 2009.

Isolagen's technology includes the Isolagen Process, a cell processing system for skin and tissue rejuvenation currently in clinical development.