BIOTRONIK Celebrates Successful Partnership with HBI on the Occasion of its 30th Anniversary

BERLIN, Germany, November 10, 2014 – BIOTRONIK, a leading manufacturer of cardiovascular medical technology, reaffirmed its commitment to the Heartbeat International (HBI) Foundation today, on the eve of HBI’s 30th anniversary. In addition to its ongoing and regular device donations, BIOTRONIK is making a special donation of more than 60 pacemakers and over 90 implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to HBI. The Florida-based, global non-profit foundation has been influential in saving the lives of needy people with life-threatening heart conditions by providing heart devices to those who cannot afford them.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number one cause of death among low and middle income populations.¹ In order to combat these numbers, BIOTRONIK formed a special partnership with HBI in 2010, donating more than 5,600 life-saving devices so far.

Since its inception in 1963, BIOTRONIK has been committed to saving lives and improving quality of life. Serving the community and helping those in need is more than a corporate responsibility, it is one of the truest reflections of the company motto, “excellence for life.” A global leader in donating devices to economically disadvantaged patients, HBI works to combat cardiovascular disease worldwide.

“As a company known for our dedication to patient health, we are proud to give patients in need access to life-saving, high-quality care in partnership with this groundbreaking charitable organization,” said Wolf Ruhnke, Vice President at BIOTRONIK. “As a company that celebrated its own 50th anniversary only last year, we congratulate HBI on its first 30 years of success!”

“Back in 2010, when we first formed a partnership with BIOTRONIK, we were thrilled to be able to create ties with such a reputable device manufacturer, capable of making such a difference,” commented HBI Chairman and CEO Dr. Benedict S. Maniscalco. “Today, we can say that that partnership has had a profound effect on the number of lives we’ve been able to save. We hope to save many more, and we know that with BIOTRONIK’s help, we will.”