Bridge to HOPE Trial Shows HOPE Reduces Liver Transplant Costs by $28,565 and Severe Rejection Rates
Key Insights
The pivotal Bridge to HOPE (search) clinical trial demonstrates that Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (search) (HOPE (search)) reduces liver transplant costs by an average of $28,565 per patient compared to standard cold storage.
HOPE (search) significantly decreased severe organ rejection (search) rates (32% vs 67%) and steroid-resistant rejection (4% vs 43%) while shortening hospital stays by over 2 days.
The VitaSmart Perfusion System (search) used with HOPE (search) showed reduced complications including fewer biliary issues, re-transplants, and deaths in 12-month follow-up data.
The pivotal Bridge to HOPE (search) clinical trial has demonstrated that Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (search) (HOPE (search)) using the VitaSmart Perfusion System (search) significantly reduces liver transplantation (search) costs while improving patient outcomes, according to 12-month follow-up data presented at the 2025 World Transplant Congress (search) in San Francisco.
Economic Benefits Drive Healthcare Value
In a comprehensive economic analysis comparing HOPE (search) to standard static cold storage (SCS), researchers found substantial cost savings across multiple metrics. HOPE reduced initial post-liver transplantation (search) hospital length of stay from 12.9 days to 10.8 days, representing a meaningful reduction in healthcare resource utilization.
The economic advantages extended beyond shorter hospital stays. HOPE (search) demonstrated reduced costs associated with biliary complications (search) (20.2% vs. 24.6%), re-transplants (1.8% vs. 4.5%), and death (2.8% vs. 3.6%) compared to standard cold storage. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (search) (CMS) data, HOPE reduced one-year post-transplant costs by an average of $28,565 per patient.
David Axelrod, MD, from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who presented the economic assessment, noted that researchers concluded HOPE (search) for a minimum 1.5 hours at the recipient hospital reduced the cost of liver transplantation (search) by shortening the index hospitalization and decreasing late complications. Additional financial benefits may include increased organ utilization, reduced staff overtime, and fewer high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (search) (MELD) transplants.
Significant Reduction in Severe Rejection
Beyond economic benefits, the trial revealed important immunomodulatory advantages of HOPE (search). In a detailed analysis of organ rejection (search) data presented by David J. Reich, MD, FACS, from Drexel University, moderate/severe biopsy-proven organ rejection was significantly less common in HOPE compared to SCS (32% vs 67%, p=.033).
The most striking finding involved steroid-resistant organ rejection (search), a serious complication that can lead to graft loss. Ten patients developed steroid resistant organ rejection (search): only one in the HOPE (search) cohort compared to nine in the SCS group (4% vs 43%, p=.003). Researchers concluded that while the prevalence of organ rejection was similar in HOPE and SCS, HOPE was associated with significantly less severe organ rejection and a significantly lower risk of steroid resistant organ rejection.
Clinical Trial Leadership and Innovation
The Bridge to HOPE (search) trial represents a groundbreaking advancement in liver transplantation (search) technology. Don Webber, CEO and President of Bridge to Life Ltd (search)., the trial sponsor, emphasized the comprehensive value proposition: "Building on the 12‑month follow‑up Bridge to HOPE clinical trial data presented in the Plenary Session, these additional analyses further strengthen the evidence for the value that HOPE (search) used with the VitaSmart™ Perfusion System brings to the transplant community."
The company's commitment extends beyond clinical outcomes to healthcare system partnerships. "Bridge to Life is committed to partnering with Transplant Centers, Organ Procurement Organizations, and Hospitals to lower total cost of care while delivering the highest‑quality patient outcomes—by shortening hospital stays and reducing post‑transplant complications, including the risk of severe and steroid‑resistant rejection," Webber stated.
Comprehensive Research Program
The Bridge to HOPE (search) findings were featured prominently at the 2025 World Transplant Congress (search) through multiple presentations, including a Plenary Session delivered by Chase J. Wehrle, MD, from Cleveland Clinic. The presentation, titled "Hypothermic-Oxygenated and Normothermic Machine Perfusion: A Risk-Matched Post-Hoc Comparison of the Bridge to Hope Randomized Trial with Prospectively Collected Institutional Outcomes," highlighted the trial's significance to the transplant community.
Additional research presentations covered specialized applications, including pediatric liver transplantation (search), split liver graft viability assessment, and biomarker analysis in peripheral blood, demonstrating the broad applicability of HOPE (search) technology across diverse transplant scenarios.
Technology and Regulatory Status
The VitaSmart Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (search) System is currently CE Marked and available for sale in several markets outside of the United States. The system is pending FDA approval in the United States, representing a significant regulatory milestone for advancing liver transplantation (search) technology in the American healthcare market.
Bridge to Life Ltd (search). positions itself as a market leader in organ preservation solutions, offering premier products including Belzer UW (search), EasiSlush (search), and the VitaSmart Perfusion System (search). The company serves and partners with leading Transplant Centers and Organ Procurement Organizations globally, focusing on product quality, innovation, and accessibility.