WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The vast majority of patients who had a successful result with the percutaneous MitraClip device did not need mitral valve surgery three years after their procedure, and many benefited from significantly improved function of the left ventricle (commonly known as reverse remodeling), according to data presented this week at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation’s (CRF) nineteenth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) symposium in Washington, D.C.
During multiple sessions at TCT 2007, researchers participating in the EVEREST II study presented data from a 107-person, non-randomized patient registry. The presentations evaluated the reduction of mitral regurgitation severity with the MitraClip device and the positive impact of this reduction for patients. The ongoing randomized study arm of EVEREST II is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the MitraClip device compared to surgical mitral valve repair or replacement for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR; a condition in which blood leaks backward through the mitral valve with each heartbeat, causing the heart to work harder to circulate oxygen to the body). Highlights of the data presented this week include:
“Our work to reduce mitral regurgitation with a percutaneous approach continues to produce compelling results,” said Ted Feldman, M.D., who presented the 36 month follow-up data at TCT. Dr. Feldman is the EVEREST II national co-principal investigator and director of the cardiac catheterization lab at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare in Evanston, Illinois. “The reduction in MR severity achieved, along with the stability of the results at 36 months and the preservation of subsequent surgical options, leads us to believe that the MitraClip device is likely to become a viable first-line option for treating MR in many patients.”
Dr. Michael Rinaldi, who presented the reverse remodeling data at TCT, concurred. “The reverse remodeling data is important in that it provides compelling, objective evidence that the MitraClip device is having a positive impact on patients,” said Dr. Rinaldi, director of clinical research at Sanger Clinic/Carolinas Medical Center. “Additionally, patients with the MitraClip report that they feel better and are able to engage more fully in activities they enjoy.”
EVEREST Study Continues Enrollment
The EVEREST study continues at more than 35 centers in North America, with more than 300 patients enrolled and more than 300 MitraClip devices implanted to date. Investigators are currently enrolling patients in both arms of the EVEREST II study -- a randomized, controlled arm and a high risk registry arm -- with the goal of completing enrollment by the end of 2008.
“This study is gathering valuable information that cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists have never had before. The data provides new insights about treatment considerations for patients with significant degenerative or functional mitral regurgitation,” said Dr. Feldman. “We encourage physicians to refer such patients to EVEREST investigators.”
More information about the EVEREST II trial is available at http://www.mitralregurgitation.org.
“Evalve remains focused on completing the EVEREST II trial and making progress toward commercialization of the MitraClip device,” said Ferolyn Powell, president and chief executive officer of Evalve(R). “The data underscore that the MitraClip device has the potential to be a valuable alternative to treat patients with mitral regurgitation, providing a less invasive treatment option and enabling patients to avoid the trauma, long recovery times and complications associated with open heart surgery.”
About EVEREST II
The EVEREST II (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge REpair STudy) clinical research study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the MitraClip device compared to surgical mitral valve repair or replacement. This prospective, randomized, multi-center study will enroll 279 patients at up to 42 sites in the United States and Canada. Patients are randomized 2:1 to receive the MitraClip device. The same sites are also enrolling patients in a High Risk Registry. Patients who are interested in participation in the study can call 1-877-MY-MR-FIX (1-877-696-7349).
About the MitraClip Device Procedure
Evalve’s Percutaneous Mitral Repair (PMR) procedure is performed by interventional cardiologists in the catheterization laboratory. The heart beats normally during the procedure, and therefore does not require a hear-lung bypass machine. In addition to improving blood flow through the heart, the procedure may also relieve symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath that often affect patients with significant MR. After treatment, patients generally return to modified activity within two days to one week. The MitraClip device appears to improve quality of life and help MR patients avoid or delay surgery, preserving surgical options (valve repair or replacement) if it becomes necessary.
About Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation (MR), the most common type of heart valve insufficiency occurs when the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly. Both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend open-heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve for patients who suffer from moderate-to-severe (Grade 3+) and severe (Grade 4+) MR; open heart surgery is not recommended for patients with 1-2+ MR.
An estimated four million people in the United States have significant (>2+) MR, with an annual incidence of 250,000 newly diagnosed patients. However, only 20 percent of these patients, or approximately, 50,000, undergo surgery each year; the other 200,000 remain affected by MR.
For more information about mitral regurgitation or the EVEREST II study, please visit http://www.mitralregurgitation.org.
About Evalve, Inc.
Evalve, Inc. (Menlo Park, Calif.) was incorporated in 1999 to design, develop, manufacture, and market innovate devices to enable percutaneous repair of cardiac valves. The company’s initial products are intended to reduce the risks, trauma and costs associated with current open, arrested heart surgical options. The company’s present development and clinical efforts are focused on mitral valve repair. For more information about Evalve, Inc., visit http://www.evalveinc.com.
MitraClip and Evalve are registered trademarks of Evalve, Inc.
CONTACT: Lorie Fiber of Edelman, cell, +1-310-383-6583,
lorie.fiber@edelman.com, for Evalve, Inc.
Web site: http://www.evalveinc.com/
http://www.mitralregurgitation.org/
