Terumo to Expand Its Reach by Going It Alone

With the vascular interventions market booming along at an annual 12% growth rate, Terumo Medial Corp., a division of Terumo Corp., has decided to launch a new direct sales, marketing and distribution strategy in the U.S. and Latin America.

The new venture will go into effect on April 1, 2006. The company's decision for solo operations means that its 15-year relationship with Boston Scientific will be at an end. Boston Scientific had provided Terumo Medical with sales, marketing, distribution and service of its vascular intervention products.

The company's overall strategy is to expand its global presence in all markets with special attention to the U.S. market which accounts for nearly half of all interventional products sold worldwide. Terumo has increased the size of its internal and external sales teams and boosted its marketing team some 300%.

The company's products include Glidewire hydrophilic coated guidewires, used to access and cross difficult-to-treat lesion; Glidecath, hydrophilic coated catheters; and Pinnacle introducer sheaths.