New York City’s World Product Centre Announces Initial Charter Partners

NEW YORK -

- Future Midtown Manhattan healthcare center offers a highly visible, neutral and transparent platform for healthcare industry to conduct commerce, host educational events, clinical training, and leverage unique facilities and resources to collaborate

World Product Centre (WPC) today announced that Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health — one of the world’s largest healthcare suppliers — is among the first 11 healthcare companies to sign License Agreements with WPC.

Joining Cardinal Health as Charter Partners in WPC are Zimmer, Inc., a global orthopedic manufacturer and distributor in the U.S. and Encompass Group, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of healthcare textiles, uniforms and architectural products addressing patient safety and satisfaction.

Also signing on are seven of the portfolio companies under the healthcare-focused private equity partnership Roundtable Healthcare Partners: ACI Medical, a biomedical engineering firm engaged in manufacturing and sales of therapeutic products and technologies for individuals with varying degrees of life-impairing vascular conditions; Bioniche Pharma, a leading developer and manufacturer of injectable pharmaceuticals; Aspen Surgical, a worldwide leader of specialty medical products; CorePharma, a manufacturer and marketer of generic pharmaceuticals; Avalign Technologies, a premier, full-service supplier of implants, instruments, and delivery systems; Excelsior Medical, a medical device company offering products that fulfill the needs of the healthcare practitioner; and Vesta, a contract manufacturer with innovative solutions in medical grade silicone molding and extrusion.

“World Product Centre is pleased to welcome this esteemed and diverse group of companies as our initial Charter Partners,” said John Strong, President of World Product Centre Marketing. “These companies are at the forefront of the healthcare industry and we are looking forward to introducing more Charter Industry and Education Partners in the coming months.”

“The development of World Product Centre provides a transparent, neutral location for healthcare providers to evaluate products and services from a variety of manufacturers and distributors,” said Mark Rosenbaum, Chief Customer Officer for Cardinal Health. “In addition, World Product Centre will act as a collaboration catalyst for healthcare suppliers to stimulate innovation and address the cost and quality challenges of today’s complex healthcare system.”

Because of impending healthcare reform in the U.S., it is imperative that medical product suppliers and providers can find a neutral place to conduct business and collaborate, as well as develop “best practices” that will support innovation.

“We continue to hear from industry that sales and marketing activities are being regulated and they are looking for new approaches to ensure effective brand visibility and successful business development,” said Strong. “A neutral platform offering visibility is at the heart of WPC’s mission in one of the world’s leading cities for business and medical education.”

“Healthcare reform in the U.S. will require a transparent and open market to preserve the collaboration and innovation that has made this country a leader in the global healthcare market,” said Jack McGinley, a founding partner at Roundtable Healthcare Partners. “For our emerging growth companies, WPC offers high visibility to Wall Street, proximity to potential acquisition partners and access to a high density of local healthcare providers who can view and evaluate new innovation.”

The Northeastern U.S. offers what is arguably one of the richest concentrations of academic medical centers, hospitals and related healthcare providers in the world, including the most orthopedic resident physicians and orthopedic surgery fellowship positions in the United States. Nearly half of the nation’s teaching hospitals are within a half-day’s drive of World Product Centre.

“Situated in New York, World Product Centre is in close proximity to many top hospitals and teaching centers,” said Alisa Lask, Vice President, Strategic Marketing at Zimmer Holdings, Inc. “With the demand for orthopedic procedures expected to grow substantially in the coming years, Zimmer anticipates that our presence at the new World Product Centre will provide an opportunity to educate prospective surgeons about the industry while simultaneously displaying our innovative product portfolio.”

WPC will offer a number of clinical and business “Centers of Excellence” within the building. One planned center is for healthcare facility building, architecture, medical furnishings and “green” construction.

“The ability to meet our customers on neutral territory as they examine products for new buildings and remodeling is very exciting to us”, said Mike Spurlock, CEO of Encompass Group, LLC. “Studies have shown there are more than US$80 billion in healthcare construction and remodeling projects waiting to start as the economy improves. WPC is a dream come true for the customers who have to design and equip new construction and remodeling, and allows us to showcase our innovative products in a high-tech, high-touch environment.”

WPC’s European and Asia-Pacific business development teams continue to receive a significant amount of interest globally.

“For international companies looking to create or expand their U.S. presence, New York offers many benefits,” said Michael Resnick, Executive Vice President of World Product Centre. “With 480 acute care facilities within 300 miles, half of all U.S. teaching hospitals located in the region, and a high density of practicing physicians and other clinicians in this area, leveraging World Product Centre for regional, and ultimately national, sales and marketing activities offers enormous opportunity. Not to mention that half-a-billion business visitors and tourists are expected to visit New York City across the next decade.”

Leaders among the largest healthcare providers in the country agree that WPC will be a highly advantageous venue.

“World Product Centre offers an indispensable tool that healthcare professionals need, to further elevate the bar in commercial partnering, technology assessment, education, and quality standards,” said Clayton McWhorter, former president and COO of Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America.

Site excavation will begin October 2009. World Product Centre is scheduled to break ground in early 2010, and open in late 2013.

About World Product Centre

World Product Centre’s mission is to provide a cost effective, transparent commercial and educational platform to support healthcare innovation and collaboration. For sales inquiries contact John Strong: +1-212-506-5517, info@worldproductcentre.com. For more information: www.worldproductcentre.com.

Source: World Product Centre

Dave Falkenstein, Sunshine, Sachs & Associates, +1-212-691-2800