CryoLife Expands Into Asia Pacific Market

CryoLife Inc. is expanding into the Far East.

The medical device manufacturer and tissue processing company has established CryoLife Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific medtech market. To support the new subsidiary, CryoLife is relocating Rich Gridley, vice president of sales for Canada, Asia-Pacific and The Americas, to a new regional headquarters in Singapore.

During the first quarter of this year, Gridley will assume the position of general manager (in addition to his current responsibilities). He will oversee CryoLife’s sales expansion, product registrations and new product introductions in the firm’s Asia Pacific distribution network, including Japan and China. In addition, he will establish the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore, which also will function as a regional sales and service center.

“We are excited about creating a strong footprint in Asia Pacific to support our current growth and future prospects in this market,” CryoLife CEO Steven G. Anderson said. “This includes our efforts to gain expanded BioGlue indications and PerClot registration in Japan and BioGlue registration in China. The onsite management support of Rich Gridley will serve to enhance our sales expansion and product registrations. We look forward to strong growth in the region.”

Based in Kennesaw, Ga., CryoLife manufactures and distributes medical devices and develops implantable living human tissue for use in cardiac and vascular surgeries. Its BioGlue Surgical Adhesive is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved and CE Marked adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels. Through its subsidiary Cardiogenesis Corporation, CryoLife specializes in the treatment of coronary artery disease for severe angine using a laser console system and single-use, fiber optic handpieces to perform a surgical procedure known as Transmyocardial Revascularization. CryoLife and its subsidiary Hemosphere Inc. market the HeRO Graft, a solution for end-stage renal disease in certain hemodialysis patients.