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VentrAssist LVAD First 100 Patients - Clinical Data Presented at ISHLT
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif, United States 26 April 2007: Ventracor (ASX:VCR) announced
today the presentation of summary clinical data of the first 100 patients implanted with the
VentrAssist™ third generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD), an implantable blood
pump designed for long term use in patients with advanced heart failure.
There are now 108 patients implanted with the VentrAssist, for over 50 patient years of
support, and 42 patients currently supported, with the longest duration of two years and eight
months. This is greater experience than all other third generation centrifugal LVADs
combined. The VentrAssist is market released in Europe (CE Mark) and is the subject of two
US clinical trials for Bridge to Transplant (BTT) and Destination Therapy (DT) indications.
Summary clinical data from the first 100 VentrAssist patients was presented today at a
plenary session of the 2007 annual meeting of the International Society of Heart and Lung
Transplantation (ISHLT) by Professor Don Esmore of the Alfred Hospital, in Melbourne.
As a pioneer in the field of LVADs, Professor Esmore has the most clinical experience with
and was the first surgeon in the world to implant the VentrAssist. A full copy of the
presentation is available at www.ventracor.com.
“The VentrAssist has changed the lives of many people, and expanded the choices for
treatment of end stage heart failure. Full results of the 33 patients enrolled in the CE Mark
Bridge to Transplant trial showed a survival rate of around 85 percent,” Professor Esmore told
the international audience of heart failure specialists.
“Since the first implant in 2003, we have learned much about patient selection and support,
and we expect that future clinical trials will continue to show improvement in patient
outcomes,” Professor Esmore added.
Ventracor CEO, Peter Crosby said, “We are proud to be showing the VentrAssist at the
ISHLT, and strengthening our collaborative relationships with leading LVAD implanting
centres, cardiologists and surgeons around the world. As we move into the key US
Destination Therapy Trial and the pivotal Bridge to Transplant trials those collaborative
relationships will be a key to our future success.”
ISHLT attracts more than 3,000 medical professionals involved in the management and
treatment of heart and lung transplant patients around the world. See www.ishlt.org for
additional information.