Abiomed reports fourth-quarter results

Abiomed Inc., a Danvers company focused on heart support technologies, reported that its fourth-quarter fiscal 2009 revenue was $19.6 million, up 12 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

"The GAAP net loss was $8.5 million, or a loss of $0.23 per fully diluted share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $15.0 million, or a loss of $0.46 per fully diluted share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008," Abiomed said in a press release.

Abiomed makes the Impella 2.5, a small heart pump.

Worldwide Impella revenue was $11.2 million, up 124 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, the company said.

"Fiscal 2009 showcased the US market demand for Impella 2.5 minimally invasive heart recovery technology, demonstrated by its rapid adoption and utilization, during a difficult financial time for our customers," Michael R. Minogue, chairman, president, and chief executive of Abiomed, said in a statement. "We quickly surpassed our fiscal 2009 goal of penetrating 100 hospitals and supporting 100 patients by reaching 229 hospital sites and 521 patients in 10 months."

To read the press release, please click here.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)