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Philips Announces HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator Available For Over-the-Counter Sale; First to Market a Defibrillator without a Prescription to Commercial Users

Business Wire, Jan 19, 2005

ANDOVER, Mass. -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) today announced that it will offer the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator for sale without a prescription. Philips is the first to market a defibrillator over-the-counter (OTC) to commercial users, which will help make the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator more easily available for the implementation of early defibrillation programs in communities, schools and businesses. This follows on the heels of the FDA's clearance of the Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator in September 2004.

Defibrillators provide treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 340,000 lives each year. Today, fewer than five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive, largely because defibrillators do not get to them in time. For each minute that passes before defibrillation therapy reaches a victim, the chance for survival decreases by about 10 percent. After 10 minutes, few attempts at resuscitation are successful. HeartStart Defibrillators treat the most common cause of SCA, a condition called ventricular fibrillation, in which the heart's electrical activity becomes disorganized and the heart pumps little or no blood.

The Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator, first introduced with a prescription requirement in November 2002, is designed for exceptional ease of use to help lay responders save a life. Clear, calm voice commands guide the responder through every step of the defibrillation process, even reminding them to call for emergency help. Patented voice coaching for adult and infant/child CPR provides instructions and audio cues for each breath, as well as the appropriate number, rate and depth of chest compressions. In addition, the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator can be used on infants and small children when equipped with specially designed infant/child pads, which reduce the amount of energy delivered by the defibrillator to a more appropriate level. Sale of the infant/child SMART pads cartridge requires a prescription, as does device configuration software. Philips was the first company to offer an automated external defibrillator for use on infants and small children.

"In pursuing our mission to save more lives from sudden cardiac arrest, Philips is committed to making defibrillators broadly accessible, whether in the home or in public settings where people work and play," said Deborah DiSanzo, vice president and general manager for cardiac resuscitation at Philips Medical Systems. "Offering the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator without a prescription further establishes Philips at the forefront of removing barriers to saving more lives."

Defibrillators are just one aspect of a well-planned resuscitation program. Philips recommends medical oversight of early defibrillation programs by a physician or other authorized medical practitioner. To support customers' implementation efforts, Philips offers HeartStart Essentials, a suite of comprehensive products and services designed to help them deploy a successful defibrillation program -- from planning and medical direction, to training and post-sales support.

Pre-implementation consulting provides program administrators and medical directors with site assessments to help them determine the number and location of defibrillators at each site, as well as guidelines for creating the program's structure, policies and procedures. Philips has partnerships with several national training organizations to provide a customized training program to meet each customer's requirements. In addition, Philips offers program and data management solutions that enable users to efficiently manage their early defibrillation programs with online training reports, pads and battery expiration reminders, as well as defibrillator location information. In order to ensure a proper program deployment, organizations should review state and local requirements regarding owning and operating defibrillators.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of $32.8 billion (EUR 29 billion) in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 166,800 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.>