PLEASANTON, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thoratec Corporation , a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said today that it has filed a PMA (Pre-Market Approval) supplement with the FDA seeking to add the intended use of Destination Therapy (DT) for the HeartMate II LVAS (left ventricular assist system). The HeartMate II is a next generation heart assist device designed to provide long-term cardiac support for patients suffering from advanced stage heart failure. The device was approved for Bridge-to-Transplantation (BTT) in the U.S. under the original PMA in April 2008.
The PMA filing includes data on a pivotal study cohort of 200 randomized patients, including two-year data on the first 167 patients enrolled. Also included in the primary analysis are data on 24 small BSA (body surface area) patients who because of their body size could not be randomized to the larger HeartMate XVE. The filing also provides data on adjunctive cohorts totaling an additional 409 patients, including those who had been originally supported by an XVE who then elected to receive a HeartMate II, based on the need for device replacement, and patients enrolled under Continuous Access Protocols (CAPs). The company plans to file an amendment to the PMA supplement submission with complete two-year data on all 200 randomized patients at the end of June.
“We are pursuing this approach and making this submission at this time based on a series of discussions with the FDA. An interim analysis conducted at the end of 2008 for the primary endpoint demonstrated statistically significant superiority in favor of the HeartMate II versus the control group. As a result, Thoratec and the FDA have agreed that it is appropriate to make this filing now and to then file an amendment to the submission once we have complete two-year data on the primary patient cohort,” said Gary F. Burbach, president and chief executive officer of Thoratec.
In December 2008, Thoratec received approval from the FDA to end randomization in the trial, based on a pre-specified interim analysis of 67 percent of the first 200 patients that showed that patients implanted with the HeartMate II achieved statistically superior outcomes versus those in the control group who were implanted with the HeartMate XVE. Based on that analysis, the study’s Data Safety Monitoring Board concurred with Thoratec’s recommendation to eliminate randomization for patients enrolled in the trial under FDA-approved CAPs.
Patients in the trial were randomized to the HeartMate II or the HeartMate XVE -- currently the only device approved for DT -- on a 2-1 basis, respectively. The primary endpoint at two years is survival while remaining free from stroke and the need for reoperation for pump repair or replacement. Secondary endpoints included adverse events, functional status, hospitalization, assessment of neuro-cognitive function and patient quality of life.
“The data from the trial demonstrate that the HeartMate II is superior to the XVE, based on device performance and the primary patient outcome of two-year survival free from stroke and reoperation for device replacement. The data also showed that key adverse events, such as infection, sepsis and right heart failure, were significantly lower for the HeartMate II versus the XVE. As a result, this submission seeking FDA approval for Destination Therapy is an important milestone in Thoratec’s mission to bring breakthrough therapies and new hope to the thousands of patients and their families suffering from advanced heart failure, as well as the clinicians who work tirelessly to treat them,” Burbach said.
“The commercial experience of the HeartMate II for BTT over the past year has been very encouraging with respect to positive patient outcomes and increased adoption by the clinical community. We look forward to working with the FDA on this submission and hope to achieve DT approval by early 2010,” he added.
The HeartMate II is a continuous flow device designed to provide long-term cardiac support for advanced-stage heart failure patients. An implantable LVAS powered by a rotary pumping mechanism, the HeartMate II is designed to have a much longer functional life than pulsatile devices and to operate more simply and quietly. The device provides blood flow through the circulatory system on a continuous basis with only one moving part. It is also smaller and easier to implant than a pulsatile device.
Thoratec is a world leader in therapies to address advanced-stage heart failure. The company’s product lines include the Thoratec(R) VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) and HeartMate LVAS with more than 13,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure. Additionally, its International Technidyne Corporation (ITC) division is a leader in point-of-care blood testing and skin incision products. Thoratec is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, visit the company’s web sites at http://www.thoratec.com or http://www.itcmed.com.
Thoratec, the Thoratec logo, HeartMate and HeartMate II are registered trademarks of Thoratec Corporation, and IVAD is a trademark of Thoratec Corporation. ITC, A-VOX Systems, AVOXimeter, HEMOCHRON, ProTime and IRMA are registered trademarks of International Technidyne Corporation. CentriMag is a registered trademark of Levitronix LLC.
Many of the preceding paragraphs, particularly but not exclusively those addressing future performance or timelines for regulatory approvals, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements can be identified by the words, “believes,” “views,” “expects,” “plans,” “hopes,” “could,” “will,” and other similar words. Actual results, events or performance could differ materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Thoratec’s control. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these statements. Investors are cautioned that all such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks related to regulatory approvals, the development of new markets including Destination Therapy, the growth of existing markets for our products, customer and physician acceptance of Thoratec products, changes in the mix of existing markets for our products, the results of enrollment in and timing of clinical trials, including the HeartMate II, the effects of FDA regulatory requirements and the effects of healthcare reimbursement and coverage policies. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release should be considered in light of these factors and those factors discussed from time to time in Thoratec’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Thoratec’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and as may be updated in subsequent SEC filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as the date hereof. Thoratec undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
CONTACT: David Smith, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of
Thoratec Corporation, +1-925-847-8600; or Neal Rosen of Ruder-Finn,
+1-415-692-3058, for Thoratec Corporation
Web site: http://www.thoratec.com/
