BioVentrix Appoints Cardiology Expert Dr. Serjan Nikolic as Vice President of Therapy Development
SAN RAMON, Calif., Sept. 23, 2013 — BioVentrix, a pioneer of technologies and procedures for the less-invasive treatment of heart failure (HF), today announced the appointment of Serjan D. Nikolic, Ph.D., as vice president of therapy development. In his new role, Dr. Nikolic will focus on the clinical implementation of the Company’s existing surgical and future transcatheter product lines for less-invasive ventricular enhancement known as the ‘LIVE’ procedure. Additionally, he will spearhead development of regulatory strategy for a forthcoming submission to the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Nikolic brings more than 35 years of combined industry and academic medical research experience to BioVentrix. Most recently, he was co-founder and chief technology officer at CardioKinetix, a medical device company focused on developing transcatheter therapies for the treatment of HF. Previously, he served as vice president of medical affairs for Neovasys, an angiogenic therapy medical device company pioneering the use of implant material to promote new blood vessel formation. Dr. Nikolic’s other industry experience has included co-founder and management positions at CardioSynopsys, Advance Closure Systems, and Somnus.
“Serjan comes to BioVentrix well prepared to drive the clinical adoption of the CE-marked Revivent™ Myocardial Anchoring System in Europe,” said Kenneth Miller, president and chief executive officer of BioVentrix. “His industry experience, including recent clinical and regulatory responsibilities, coupled with a strong academic research background, will allow him to make immediate and important contributions to BioVentrix and to the field of heart failure therapy. He will play an important role in the launch of our hybrid transcatheter-minimally invasive product, the Revivent-TC™ Myocardial Anchoring System.”
Dr. Nikolic holds both a doctorate and a master’s degree in cardiovascular physiology and biophysics from the Yeshiva University Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in biomedical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in physics both from the University of Belgrade. He has held assistant professorship positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and at Stanford University Medical School. Dr. Nikolic is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and was an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association. He has published more than 150 original research papers, book chapters and other publications in the field of cardiovascular medicine. He is a named inventor on numerous US-issued patents and patent applications.
“I am very excited to join the BioVentrix team and to have an active role in development of new therapy options for patients who suffer from heart failure post-myocardial infarction,” said Dr. Nikolic. “Despite the great advances in devices and pharmacological therapy, the prevalence and incidence of this disease looms as a new epidemic in cardiovascular medicine. The robust new technology from BioVentrix is promising for treating a wide range of patients, especially with advent of the new hybrid transcatheter–minimally invasive approach.”
About the Revivent System: A Less Invasive Intervention for Heart Failure Patients
The Revivent Myocardial Anchoring System addresses the safety concerns of physicians about subjecting patients to invasive surgical interventions on the heart’s left ventricle. The system is comprised of a series of titanium anchor pairs, which are placed using transmural catheters. Once the desired number of anchor pairs is positioned, the lateral LV wall is pulled toward the septum to create a fold of tissue that effectively excludes the non-functioning scar created by a previous heart attack. The ventricle is restored to a more optimal, conical shape, which enhances the pumping efficiency of the remaining myocardium.
About the LIVE Procedure: World’s Only Reshaping, Restorative Left Ventricle Therapy
Less-Invasive Ventricular Enhancement therapy or the LIVE procedure provides physician teams with a gentler surgical option, offering the potential for more consistent and favorable surgical outcomes, while giving HF patients and their families renewed hope for a more productive life. The LIVE procedure can be performed as a separate standalone procedure, concurrent with other procedures (e.g., CABG) or during other occasions when a sternotomy is already employed. Neither a myocardial incision nor cardiopulmonary bypass is required.
About BioVentrix
BioVentrix, a privately held medical technology company headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., is focused on developing and commercializing minimally invasive as well as nonsurgical therapies for treating HF.
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