Berlin Heart GmbH has received its first marketing approval in North America. The EXCOR(R) Pediatric ventricular assist device received the License with Conditions from Health Canada, the Federal Department responsible for regulatory issues in Canada.
The Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric is a mechanical cardiac support system for critically ill pediatric patients suffering from severe heart failure. EXCOR Pediatric has been used as a short-term, mid-term, and long-term support system, supporting failing hearts from days up to several months.
The system is designed to bridge patients awaiting heart transplantation until a donor heart becomes available, but has also been used successfully as a bridge to recovery when a patient's heart was able to recover and work on its own again. Unlike other VADs, EXCOR Pediatric can be used to support children of all age groups, from newborns up to teenagers.
Dr. Johannes Muller, General Manager of Berlin Heart, comments: "The license with conditions represents a milestone reached for children and teenagers suffering from severe heart failure, as the system is now more readily available in Canada. Since patients often require acute emergency support, this is a major step toward improved care for these potentially terminally ill children."
Since the application for Canadian regulatory approval in September 2007, 21 patients were supported in Canada with EXCOR Pediatric under special access approval.
