Burlington-Based Biotech Firm Advances Heart Failure Treatment
A biotech company headquartered in Burlington has enrolled the first patients to trial its innovative new heart failure treatment.
Heart failure can be a devastating diagnosis. Often patients in later stages of the disease need to use a pump known as an LVAD (left ventricular assist device) to effectively pump blood through the body so they can undergo normal daily living activities. Currently there is only one FDA-approved LVAD in the US, and one Burlington-based company is working to advance treatment for this serious condition.
BrioHealth Solutions, headquartered on South Bedford Street in Burlington, has enrolled the first patients in trials of its new medical device, BrioVAD. This LVAD system is designed to deliver greater performance and decrease complications that often result from using an LVAD device, thereby enhancing the quality of life of the wearer.
The field has long been in need of innovation, says BrioHealth on their website. The company, which was founded in 2008 by a group of heart failure experts "committed to restoring, extending and enhancing the lives of patients," has been working to create a device that is easier to use, has a smaller form factor, and presents a lower chance of infection and other adverse events than the one currently on the market.
More than 350 patients outside the US have been treated with a system that incorporates the BrioVAD pump, and now patients in the U.S. will participate in trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this new system for treating advanced, refractory left ventricular heart failure.
“We are thrilled to kick off the INNOVATE trial, following a phenomenal journey of innovation, engineering, and quality refinement to bring the BrioVAD System to life,” said Chen Chen, Ph.D.,Chief Executive Officer of BrioHealth Solutions. “Despite advancements in ventricular assist devices, there remains a pressing need for improved device performance and patient outcomes, and BrioHealth is committed to addressing this gap. It is also incredibly rewarding to see the enthusiasm from our participating centers in advancing heart failure treatment through this study.”
Learn more about BrioVAD for treatment of advanced heart failure, the INNOVATE trial and BrioHealth Solutions.
