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"We are excited to be able to offer this new option for our patients, as the CoreValve system has demonstrated exceptional clinical results in studies globally as well as in Japan," said Yoshiki Sawa, M.D., professor in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan. "Physicians in Japan should have confidence in making TAVI treatment decisions for patients who may benefit from a less invasive valve replacement procedure with this proven self-expandable valve." Data from the Extreme and High Risk Studies in the CoreValve U.S. Pivotal Trial demonstrated that the CoreValve System is safe and effective with high rates of survival and some of the lowest rates of stroke and valve leakage reported. The CoreValve System, with a supra-annular valve design, has also achieved hemodynamics, or blood flow, post-implant with results similar to the gold standard, surgical valves. The Medtronic CoreValve Japan Trial confirmed the performance of CoreValve shown in the U.S. Pivotal Trial. At 6 months, 91.7 percent of the transfemoral (TAVI procedure through the femoral artery) patients in the Japan trial met the primary endpoint of improvement of at least one New York Heart Association class (measures severity of heart failure symptoms) and aortic valve area (measures the severity of aortic stenosis) greater than 1.2 cm2. For all patients in the trial, freedom from all-cause mortality at 6 months was 90.8 percent. The trial also demonstrated functional and anatomical effectiveness of CoreValve. The CoreValve self-expanding nitinol frame enables physicians to deliver the device to the diseased valve in a controlled manner, allowing for accurate placement. Valves are delivered via the smallest (18Fr, or approximately 1/4 inch) TAVR delivery system available, making it possible to treat patients with difficult or small vasculature. "Medtronic has been committed to bringing this life-saving therapy to patients in Japan. The feedback from heart teams around the world using CoreValve has been overwhelmingly positive and we are confident that Japanese physicians will embrace the therapy," said Rhonda Robb, vice president and general manager of the Heart Valve Therapies business, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. "We look forward to working with Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to gain reimbursement for CoreValve, and to initiating comprehensive training and education programs to support heart teams so that more patients may benefit from this break-through technology." Since receiving CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark in 2007, the CoreValve System has been implanted in more than 75,000 patients in more than 60 countries. The CoreValve System was approved by the FDA for patients at extreme risk in January 2014, and approved for high risk patients in June 2014. The next-generation recapturable CoreValve Evolut R transcatheter valve and the CoreValve EnVeo R Delivery Catheter System are available in Europe and other countries that recognize the CE mark. In collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias. The company strives to offer products and services that deliver clinical and economic value to healthcare consumers and providers around the world. About Medtronic Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Source: Medtronic plc |
