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The first of a class of calcimimetics has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism associated with renal failure and in patients with parathyroid cancer.
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These data provide further support that inflammation in general and periodontal disease more specifically are stroke risk factors.
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High-dose atorvastatin protects patients with acute coronary syndrome from death and major cardiovascular events better than usual dose pravastatin.
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SynCardia Systems (Tucson, Arizona), a developer of cardiac replacement and assist devices, in mid-October received final FDA approval for its CardioWest Temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) formerly the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to heart transplantation. Specifically, the approval is for use in cardiac transplant-eligible candidates at risk of imminent death from non-reversible biventricular failure.
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Adam Berman has been named vice president, research and development for MedicalCV (Minneapolis). He most recently was a regional sales manager for cardiac surgery-focused Coalescent Surgical. Medical CV is focused on developing products for improved patient outcomes by early treatment of cardiovascular disorders.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS; Baltimore) recently asked the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS; Washington) to lead a working group to make recommendation for a national implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) registry. Late in September, CMS posted a draft national coverage determination to expand coverage of ICDs.
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Dade Behring (Deerfield, Illinois), the University of Frankfurt (Frankfurt, Germany) and Innovectis (also Frankfurt) have signed an exclusive license agreement that provides Dade Behring with worldwide rights for the inventions of a research group at the university that relate to placental growth factor (PlGF) for cardiovascular diseases, soluble CD40 ligand for the prognosis of the course of disease in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and additional markers for cardiovascular diseases.
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Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, California) reported that it has enhanced its core heart valve business with the acquisition of all technology and intellectual property associated with ev3s (Plymouth, Minnesota) percutaneous mitral valve repair program for roughly $15 million.
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At the 16th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting in Washington in late September, companies big and small presented compelling data from various studies for new products that they hope will lead to newly approved products in the interventional cardiology sector as well as showcased recently cleared devices that could potentially revolutionize the medical field.
