Ancora Heart said yesterday that it launched a U.S.-based early feasibility study looking to evaluate its AccuCinch ventricular repair system intended for treating patients with reduce ejection fraction systolic heart failure.
The first patient has already been enrolled in the study at UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg by Dr. Hemal Gada and Dr. Mubashir Mumtaz, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Ancora Heart said.
“We are pleased to participate in this study because it is the first in the world to evaluate a transcatheter therapy for heart failure that seeks to restore quality of life and longevity by directly improving left ventricular heart function,” Dr. Gada said in a prepared statement.
The AccuCinch ventricular repair system is an investigative device designed for the minimally invasive treatment of heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation. The system is designed to reduce the size of the left ventricle to improve left ventricular function and reduce the symptoms of heart failure, the company said.
The newly launched trial, which aims to enroll up to 15 patients, is the second U.S. early feasibility study the company has launched evaluating the safety of the AccuCinch system.
“Enrolling the first patient in this heart failure study is a significant milestone in our mission to profoundly improve the care and quality of life of heart failure patients. We believe the preliminary data from our initial AccuCinch feasibility study suggests that repairing the enlarged left ventricle directly may fundamentally improve heart function. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to better understand AccuCinch’s potential benefits in this currently underserved patient population with HFrEF,” prez & CEO Jeff Closs said in a press release.
Last May, said today it raised $17.8 million in a financing round to support its AccuCinch system.
