First Patients Treated with Miracor Impulse System
Dateline: 9 December 2009
Miracor Medical Systems announced today the completion of the first two patient procedures using the new Miracor PICSOTM Impulse System at the Medical University Hospital (AKH) in Vienna, Austria.
(Vienna, Austria) The patients, both men 64 and 73 years old, received concomitant Pressure-controlled Intermittent Coronary Sinus Occlusion (PICSOTM) for 20 minutes while undergoing biventricular pacemaker implantations. During the procedures the hemodynamics of the patients were stable and no abnormal peri-procedural events were observed. Both patients have been discharged from the hospital. The patients are enrolled into the ATOS1 trial which is documenting the safety of PICSOTM in 23 patients.
Prof. DDr. Werner Mohl, the Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Miracor, commented: “Today marks a milestone for PICSO. This is the first time we have used the newly developed console with the proprietary Wien Algorithm and the new catheter. The procedures went flawlessly both with regard to the insertion of the PICSO Impulse Catheter and during the 20 minutes of PICSO. I am very encouraged by the performance of the device and pleased that the patients are doing well.”
Miracor started the development of its new technology platform in October 2008.
Commenting on the procedures, Jon H. Hoem, Miracor’s CEO, said: “We are excited that we reached this important milestone in such a short timeframe. These first procedures were made possible by the groundbreaking work over many years by Prof. Mohl and the considerable efforts of our development and regulatory teams. I would also like to thank Dr. Cesar Khazen for his contributions in developing the devices and treating the patients.”
The ATOS1 trial is one in several clinical trials Miracor will undertake to document the safety and effectiveness of PICSOTM in heart attack patients.
About Miracor:
Established in May 2008, Miracor Medical Systems GmbH is an Austrian medical device company founded to develop and commercialize Pressure-controlled Intermittent Coronary Sinus (PICSOTM) technology for the treatment of heart attack patients.
The PICSO™ procedure intermittently occludes venous outflow from the heart muscle. This increases coronary sinus pressure and redistributes blood flow into the damaged tissue of the heart. PICSO™ has the potential to improve outcomes for heart attack patients by reducing and revitalizing the damaged tissue. PICSO™ may also be of benefit to heart failure and cardiac surgery patients.
The company estimates that the initial market opportunity for PICSO™ is 30% of the severely ill heart attack patients treated each year. This represents an addressable market of more than 400,000 patients annually. The Company has raised €6.0M (USD 8.5M) from two European venture capital funds: Earlybird (www.earlybird.com); and Delta Partners (www.deltapartners.com).
For further information, please contact:
Jon H. Hoem, CEO
Miracor Medical Systems GmbH
Mariannengasse 14/14
A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: +43 (0) 123 665 7611
Fax: +43 (0) 123 665 7621