Non-drug, treatment for hypertension gets further physiological backing in AHA's Hypertension Primer

Fort Lee, NJ - May 7, 2003 - A recently published third edition of the American Heart Association's textbook, Hypertension Primer, is providing further support for the new non-drug hypertension treatment device, RESPeRATE ^TM .

This third edition includes a new chapter which reviews the link between respiration and blood pressure and suggests a physiological basis for the therapeutic effect of the RESPeRATE ^TM previously demonstrated in six clinical studies.

"We now believe that significant blood pressure reductions delivered by RESPeRATE ^TM may be explained at least in part by the reduced sympathetic outflow caused by the device's low frequency respiratory pacing technology, leading to the reduction of peripheral resistance and sensitization of the arterial baroreflex." Said Dr. Gianfranco Parati, one of the chapter's authors, who added that "the understanding of the physiological mechanism of action further supports the application of this device for the non-drug treatment of hypertension"

The RESPeRATE ^TM , cleared by the FDA for the adjunctive treatment of hypertension, is gaining acceptance as a new non-drug modality in the treatment of the disease.

"Since the FDA clearance, we have received overwhelmingly good feedback from the thousands of patients and physicians who are successfully using RESPeRATE ^TM " said Erez Gavish, CEO of InterCure, RESPeRATE TM 's manufacturer. "We are now seeing RESPeRATE ^TM being incorporated into therapeutic guidelines and featured in a growing number of medical and popular publications. I'm confident that this important review will accelerate the adoption of the device into the standard of care."

For reprints of the chapter and additional information about RESPeRATE ^TM see www.resperate.com/press or call Tom Kirwan at (201) 720-7750, ext. 7136.

About InterCure
InterCure ( www.intercure.com ) is a medical device company pioneering the application of respiratory-pacing technology for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Following six successful clinical trials, RESPeRATE TM ( www.resperate.com ), InterCure's first product, became the only FDA-cleared, non-drug medical device indicated for the adjunctive treatment of hypertension. RESPeRATE ^TM can be safely added to lifestyle modifications and/or pharmacological therapy. RESPeRATE ^TM 's blood pressure reductions are in addition to other treatments.