SAN FRANCISCO and HERZLIYA PITUACH, Israel, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 23rd Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) Conference --SMT Research & Development, Ltd. (“SMT”) today announced that Shuki Porath has joined the company as Vice President and General Manager. Mr. Porath will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations in the company’s development and production facility in Herzliya Pituach, Israel, and will also play a key role in developing and implementing the company’s product, clinical, regulatory and commercialization strategies. SMT is developing a proprietary embolic deflection device designed for use during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (“TAVI”) and other complex structural heart procedures. The company’s mission is to help reduce the incidence of brain injury (stroke and so-called “silent stroke”) during TAVI procedures. Mr. Porath will report to SMT’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Zalesky, Ph.D.
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“I am pleased to welcome Shuki to the SMT team,” Dr. Zalesky said. “TAVI is one of the most promising and exciting medical device innovations in years. The recent approval for marketing by the FDA of the first TAVI device highlights the potential. Having said that, for this technology to reach its full potential and eventually extend its surgery-avoidance benefits to younger, less sick patients, it is clear that the risk of stroke and so-called “silent stroke” associated with these devices must be addressed. Our company is focused on that goal with the development of our embolic deflection device. The addition Mr. Porath, a seasoned device executive, will significantly accelerate the development and commercialization process.”
Prior to joining SMT in November 2011, Mr. Porath served as CEO at SeamVad Ltd, a medical device start-up company developing disposables for vascular surgery, and was CEO at ES Vascular Ltd., developer and manufacturer of innovative open and endovascular aortic staplers for AAA procedures. Formerly, Mr. Porath served as a Senior Executive at Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson Company. During his 10 year tenure with Biosense Webster -- the market leader in guided applications and products for Electrophysiology -- Mr. Porath held various executive positions in the areas of product management, business development, and clinical applications. Mr. Porath holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Industrial Engineering and MBA -- all received from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
TCT Presence
Learn more about SMT’s development activities and clinical research at booth #511 at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation’s (CRF) 23rd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) Conference, scheduled for November 7 - 11, 2011 in San Francisco. We also invite you to visit our new web site at www.smtmed.com
About SMT
SMT is developing cerebral protection devices designed to reduce the incidence of brain injury (stroke and so-called “silent stroke”) during complex catheter-based interventions. Our initial product is designed for use during TAVI procedures and is specifically configured to protect all three aortic arch take-offs leading to the brain. Our existing device has undergone extensive testing, including FIM studies in Europe. Clinical studies are planned in Europe and Canada, with CE Marking expected in 2012. We are actively collaborating with renowned cardiologists in the US, Europe, and Canada. SMT’s executive team has extensive experience in the interventional cardiology field and venture capital backing is provided by OrbiMed Advisors, LLC, one of the largest dedicated healthcare fund managers in the world. SMT’s device is currently for investigational use only.
SOURCE SMT Research & Development, Ltd.
