Abbott announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system, representing the first device capable of replacing mitral valves without open-heart surgery for patients with severe mitral annular calcification (MAC). The approval addresses a significant unmet medical need for high-risk patients who are not candidates for traditional surgical approaches.
Addressing Severe Mitral Annular Calcification
The Tendyne system specifically targets patients whose mitral valves are not functioning properly due to severe MAC, a condition characterized by calcium buildup within the annulus - the ring-like structure that supports the mitral valve. This calcification stiffens the valve structure and can lead to mitral regurgitation (leaky valve) or stenosis (narrowed valve), disrupting the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
"Mitral annular calcification stiffens the structure of the mitral valve and can lead to mitral regurgitation or stenosis that disrupt the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. These conditions can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life, causing symptoms such as chest pains, shortness of breath and dizziness," said Paul Sorajja, M.D., the Roger L. and Lynn C. Headrick Family Chair of the Valve Science Center for the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and director of the Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease for the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
Bridging Critical Treatment Gaps
The complex nature of mitral valve disease and patients' specific health conditions can pose significant challenges for surgical correction. For patients with severe MAC who are at high risk for open-heart surgery and whose mitral valve cannot be successfully repaired with Abbott's existing MitraClip device, Tendyne offers an alternative minimally invasive approach.
"Unfortunately, patients with MAC can be very difficult to operate on and many are considered too high risk for open-heart surgery due to multiple co-morbidities or other factors. Tendyne bridges a critical treatment gap for these patients and can help reduce the symptoms that can interfere with their lives," Sorajja explained.
Innovative Device Design and Delivery
The Tendyne system features an innovative design that allows it to adapt to a range of patient anatomies through multiple available sizes. The self-expanding valve is delivered through a small incision in the chest and then advanced into the heart to replace the mitral valve. A key advantage of the system is that the valve is fully repositionable and retrievable during implantation, allowing physicians to optimize placement for the best possible patient outcomes.
Expanding Structural Heart Portfolio
The approval represents a significant addition to Abbott's comprehensive structural heart portfolio in the United States. "Tendyne is a much-needed addition to our comprehensive U.S. structural heart portfolio that offers less invasive treatment options for a range of heart diseases," said Sandra Lesenfants, senior vice president of Abbott's structural heart business. "This approval builds on our more than two decades of mitral valve leadership that includes developing first-of-their-kind devices that truly change – and save – people's lives."
The Tendyne approval strengthens Abbott's position in the structural heart market, complementing existing technologies like the MitraClip device and expanding treatment options for patients with complex mitral valve conditions who previously had limited therapeutic alternatives.
