Mardil Inc. Appoints Medical Device Veteran Daniel A. Pelak to Its Board of Directors
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Mardil Inc., a cardiac medical device company with novel technology for treating mitral valve regurgitation, today announced the appointment of Daniel A. Pelak to its board of directors.
Mr. Pelak's significant experience in the field of cardiac medical devices will serve as a guiding force for Mardil, a company that has rapidly advanced its unique device from the development stage to human trials within a span of 2 years, according to Gopal Muppirala, CEO and co-founder of Mardil.
"Dan has a long history as a senior executive in the medical device industry, garnering multiple successes in growing young companies and managing corporate operating divisions," said Jai Ramon, M.D., Mardil co-founder and professor of surgery and director of adult cardiac surgery and cardiothoracic surgical research at the University of Chicago. "He has a wealth of experience commercializing cardiac devices, and we look forward to adding someone with Dan's background to our board."
The Mardil device, called BACE (basal annuloplasty of the cardia externally), began first-in-human testing in India last month, and clinical trials will expand internationally in the third quarter of 2009. The BACE device serves as a tension band that encircles the heart and supports the exterior heart muscle. Its gentle pressure enables the leaflets of the mitral valve to open and close properly and thus prevents the backflow of blood into the left ventricle, a condition called mitral regurgitation. The device is designed to be less invasive, less costly, and to reduce side effects and mortality rates associated with current mitral valve repair and replacement techniques.
"The BACE device is truly a breakthrough technology that has the potential to change the way we treat heart valve disease," Pelak said. "I am excited to be affiliated with a company that has successfully developed a truly novel alternative to invasive valvular replacement, and I look forward to contributing my skills toward advancing this therapy."
Currently Mr. Pelak is senior advisor to the private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe. Previously he served as the CEO of InnerPulse Inc. and as the CEO of Closure Medical Corp. until its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 2005. Pelak began his career at Medtronic Inc., where he advanced through multiple management positions over a 20-year period. His executive positions at Medtronic included vice president of cardiovascular marketing as well as vice president and general manager of three operating divisions: Nortech, Cardiac Surgery Technology, and Perfusion Systems.
ABOUT MARDIL INC.
Mardil Inc. is a medical device company whose mission is to design, develop and market new and innovative patented technologies in the cardiac medical device field. Each device will fulfill an unmet need in cardiovascular medical procedures by improving upon existing technology or by designing new technology that more effectively treats cardiovascular conditions. The company's first product is a minimally invasive device that treats functional mitral valve regurgitation. The device is currently undergoing human trials.
CONTACT: Becky Levine, +1-919-786-4918, blevine@medthink.com