Final Subject Enrolled in Early Feasibility Study of the GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) today announced completion of enrollment into its early feasibility study evaluating the GORE® EXCLUDER® Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE) for the treatment of aortic aneurysms involving the visceral branch vessels. The TAMBE is designed to be the first complete off-the-shelf solution for the treatment of this complex disease. The device adds to Gore’s comprehensive portfolio of aortic branch solutions designed to effectively treat aortic aneurysms through minimally invasive means.

Today, U.S. physicians treating patients with aneurysms involving the visceral segment have limited options. The open surgical procedure is complex and is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, those who would prefer a minimally invasive approach are currently limited to a combination of products not designed for this purpose, or must wait for a custom-built device, when and if the patient’s anatomy qualifies them for this option.

“The early feasibility study included two configurations of the TAMBE Device,” said Michel Makaroun, MD, Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and National Principal Investigator of the study. “In addition to the original retrograde renal branch configuration, a new antegrade configuration allowing all of the branches to be delivered from the patient’s arm, was evaluated.”

The antegrade configuration also features a shorter device length to optimize the fit of this design across the largest set of patient anatomies. The all-in-one system has four pre-cannulated portals for the placement of the stent-graft branches in the visceral branch vessels. Additionally, the antegrade version maintains an intuitive staged delivery system intended to provide physicians the ability to reposition the graft and aid in the selective catheterization of the branches throughout the deployment process.

“Building a custom device can add a lengthy delay to time-sensitive treatments. An off-the-shelf solution from Gore makes sense as the company’s products have been designed specifically to work together to solve complex medical challenges,” said Mark Farber, MD, a vascular surgeon (aortic specialist) in Chapel Hill, N.C., and participant in the study. “This enhancement to the original GORE EXCLUDER Thoracoabdominal Device will help bring a minimally invasive option to the greatest number of eligible patients while reducing the complexity of the procedure.”

In 2013, the FDA released guidance regarding early feasibility studies, which offers a relatively new pathway to facilitate providing patients with access to safe, effective new technologies of significant importance. As cited in the guidance, the pathway enables “early clinical evaluation of devices to provide proof of principle and initial clinical safety data.” The device’s early feasibility study has now enrolled the required 10 subjects, with more than half of these implanted with the latest generation of the device. This study follows an ongoing clinical study that began in Brazil in 2014.

“Since bringing our first EVAR device to the market nearly two decades ago, Gore has been committed to providing innovative solutions to treat patients endovascularly who would have been treated surgically in the past. The completion of the TAMBE early feasibility study is the latest example of our quest to provide a complete portfolio of devices for the minimally invasive treatment of aortic aneurysm cases,” said Ryan Takeuchi, Aortic Business Unit Leader at Gore.

The GORE EXCLUDER Thoracoabdominal Branch Device is part of the growing family of endovascular products that share a mission to effectively treat aortic disease, backed by Gore’s highly rated clinical support team and educational offerings. The comprehensive portfolio of products includes the first FDA approved off-the-shelf iliac branch device, the GORE® EXCLUDER® Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis (IBE), indicated for the endovascular treatment of common iliac artery aneurysms or aortoiliac aneurysms. To round out the branched portfolio, studies are also underway in the U.S. for GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis.

For more information about Gore’s aortic family of products, please visit http://www.goremedical.com/aortic.

ABOUT US

At Gore Medical, we have provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for 40 years. During that time, 40 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. Our extensive family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia and soft tissue reconstruction, staple line reinforcement materials, and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac, and general surgery. We are one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. For more information, visitwww.goremedical.com.

Products listed may not be available in all markets. GORE®, EXCLUDER®, and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.