Alsius Corporation Awarded Three-Year Agreement With MedAssets Supply Cha...( IRVINE Calif. April 9 2008 /- Als...),Health

IRVINE, Calif., April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alsius Corporation (Nasdaq: ALUS), the worldwide leader in intravascular temperature management (IVTM(TM)) therapies for critically ill patients, was awarded a three-year contract with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems. MedAssets Supply Chain Systems provides group purchasing and supply chain services in the U.S., serving more than 125 health systems, including 2,500 hospitals.

Under the terms of the agreement, MedAssets will co-market Alsius' IVTM systems and catheters via its sales force, and the two companies will collaborate on customized marketing promotions to MedAssets' customers. Alsius will be the exclusive provider of intravascular temperature management products to MedAssets' extensive network of acute care hospitals.

"This agreement represents yet another endorsement of our technology by one of the elite hospital partners in the U.S.," said Bill Worthen, president and chief executive officer of Alsius. "We were happy to work with MedAssets during the selection process to demonstrate the importance of effective control of body temperature in critically ill patients, and how our 'inside-out' approach can do so precisely and efficiently."

Prior to its agreement with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems, Alsius underwent MedAssets' rigorous nine-step contract selection process, including thorough review by its research team and the MedAssets Contracting Advisory Team, to determine whether Alsius' products meet the needs of its hospital customers.

"MedAssets prides itself on offering customized solutions to its hospital customers, which is why their input plays an important role in the contracts we award," said Mark Miriani, president, MedAssets Supply Chain
'/>"/>