Recent Study Demonstrates Value of EBT in Monitoring Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis

Business Wire, June 8, 1999

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--June 8, 1999--

Provocative Method of Incorporating EBT Calcium Results

Into National Risk Assessment Guidelines Proposed in

American Journal of Cardiology Editorial

Imatron Inc. (Nasdaq:IMAT) announced that the June 1999 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings presented an article highlighting the results of a pilot study conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, by Julie E. Maher, Ph.D and colleagues describing the role of EBT in measuring individual changes in the quantity of coronary artery calcification and, thereby, the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, the May 1999 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology featured an editorial by Scott M. Grundy, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of the National Cholesterol Education Program Committee, highlighting the potentially significant role that Imatron's EBT Coronary Artery Scan could play supplementing the standard risk assessment algorithm for coronary heart disease.

The Mayo Clinic study found significant change in the total coronary artery calcification score during a 3.5-year follow-up interval. After adjusting for baseline age and male sex, the authors estimated that coronary artery calcification score increased, on average, by 24% each year from the baseline scan, with more than doubling of the score predicted in four years. The ability to detect significant change in coronary artery calcification score over time provides evidence that EBT is useful for studying progression of the quantity of coronary artery calcification in a sample and may be a valuable procedure for assessing the effectiveness of clinical interventions designed to retard progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

In his editorial, "Age as a Risk Factor: You Are as Old as Your Arteries," Dr. Grundy asserts that it should be possible to enhance the accuracy of coronary heart disease risk assessment by using a more direct measurement of plaque burden and by modifying the age factor accordingly. Grundy suggests replacing "age" in the standard risk assessment paradigm for coronary heart disease with a direct measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, i.e., measurement of the amount and extent of coronary artery calcification, as measured by EBT. Dr. Grundy concludes that middle-aged patients who otherwise appear to be at only moderate risk may benefit from an estimate of their "arterial age." In addition, older patients in whom risk status is uncertain should be better classified by a refined adjustment of the age factor by noninvasive testing (such as the Coronary Artery Scan by EBT).

S. Lewis Meyer, CEO of Imatron, stated, "These two important publications supporting the power and precision of the Coronary Artery Scan by EBT provide new evidence of the expanding medical community awareness of the role that the Coronary Artery Scan can play in monitoring the progression of coronary artery disease specifically in asymptomatic individuals. The Coronary Artery Scan by EBT has now clearly advanced from the determination of the volume and distribution of coronary artery calcium to become an important tool in the assessment of the risk of coronary artery disease in the asymptomatic individual as well as a unique method of monitoring the progression of atherosclerosis and to track the effectiveness of treatment of this progressive disease. In essence, an individual's calcium score as an indicator of coronary atherosclerotic plaque volume can double over four years compared with long term angiographic studies of stenosis, which show only a few percentage point change over the same period."

Mr. Meyer continued, "We are confident that this continued medical community recognition of the importance of the Coronary Artery Scan in monitoring the progression and likelihood of coronary artery disease will drive future sales of our EBT scanner."

Imatron, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing, and supporting high performance EBT scanners based on the Company's proprietary scanning electron beam tomography (EBT) technology. Imatron's EBT scanner is now in use at major medical centers around the world, including Mayo Clinic, University of Iowa, National Institutes of Health, UCLA, Stanford University, University of Illinois, The Arizona Heart Institute, The University of Graz, The Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Tokyo University Hospital and Beijing Hospital.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and estimates about the industry in which Imatron operates, the estimated impact of certain technological advances, the estimated impact of published research studies on scanner sales and procedures, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others: failed clinical demonstration of certain asserted technological advantages and diagnostic capabilities; reliance on product distributors; competition in the diagnostic imaging market; failure to improve product reliability or introduce new product models and enhancements; delays in production and difficulty in obtaining components and sub-assemblies from limited sources of supply; inability to meet cash-on-delivery or prepayment terms from vendors; determinations by regulatory and administrative government authorities; patent expiration and denial of patent applications; the high cost of the scanner as compared to commercially available CT scanners; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including their reports on Form 10-K for their current fiscal year.