More than 8 million people in the developed world suffer from...

More than 8 million people in the developed world suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF) and about 800,000 or 10 per cent have a life expectancy of less than one year.

Currently, the only treatment available is a heart transplant but there are only around 3,500 donor hearts available each year - worldwide.

As other medical advances extend the average life expectancy, the number of people with CHF grows – the American Heart Association estimates congestive heart failure will compound at a rate of 10 per cent annually.

There is a clear and growing need for a cardiac assist system that reduces the need for a heart transplant and enables people a return to a higher quality of life.

Independent analysts have estimated the annual market for cardiac assist systems – such as Ventracor’s leading VentrAssist™ left ventricular assist system – will grow to $US7.5 billion before the end of this decade.

The unique features of the VentrAssist™ coupled with Ventracor’s ability to manufacture cost-effectively and strong global marketing capabilities will ensure that the company will secure a significant share of this emerging market.

The drivers for market growth are:

Despite a general decline in other forms of heart disease, the rate of congestive heart failure is rising. VentrAssist™ offers the potential to extend lives and restores normal life to this growing patient population.


Ventracor’s cardiac assist device technology is aimed primarily as an alternative to heart transplant but other markets include bridge to (heart) transplant and bridge to recovery.


In the major market of the United States, health and insurance authorities are currently reimbursing the cost of systems similar to the VentrAssist™. The VentrAssist™ system and cost of the operation are potentially much less than the comparative cost of keeping a heart failure patient in intensive care and also less than the total cost of a heart transplant over a patient's lifetime, due to the greatly reduced need for drug therapy such as immune system suppression drugs.


Ventracor’s competitive advantage is its rotary device using hydrodynamic levitation. The robust simplicity of its design, its outstanding bio-compatibility, a unique patented hydrodynamic impeller, small size and affordability set it apart from the other devices.
There are an estimated 11.2 million sufferers of congestive heart failure worldwide, which is increasing by 10 per cent each year. Of these people, an estimated one million have a life expectancy of less than one year. Each year, only about 3,000 people receive a heart transplant as the only current definitive long-term treatment for end-stage congestive heart failure. At the same time, organ donations are decreasing.


Europe and the United States represent a significant proportion of the market for congestive heart failure therapy.

Ventracor’s primary focus is to deliver the VentrAssist™ to the global market.

Analysts value the potential of this market at between US$7.5 and US$12 billion annually.