First clinical heart transplant performed using Stig Steen’s new method

Through its collaboration agreement with Igelösa, XVIVO Perfusion has the commercial rights to Professor Stig Steen’s research on heart transplants. The research has resulted in a method in connection with heart transplants that makes it possible to transport and preserve the heart from a donor in a more optimized way. Previous animal experiments have demonstrated that the method has the potential to extend the time a heart can be preserved outside the body (Ex Vivo). The first clinical heart transplant using the new method has now been performed at Skåne University Hospital.

Approximately 6,500 heart transplants are performed in the world each year and the limiting factor for more heart transplants are the lack of donated hearts and that the generally accepted maximum transport time today is about four hours.  The new preservation method includes a machine that supplies the heart with important substances in an oxygenated solution before transplantation. In previous animal experiments using the new method, the preservation time for the donated heart has been extended from today’s approximately four hours to approximately 12 hours.

Skåne University Hospital has obtained ethical approval to initially perform a study including six patents. 

If the new method proves to work as well in human beings as in animals, it will be possible to use considerably more hearts for transplantation. In the longer term this will mean that the most suitable recipient can receive the donated organ with distance being less of a limiting factor.

“We are delighted that the first successful heart transplant using Stig Steen’s new heart solution and machine has now been performed in a human being. Previous results from animal experiments are promising and we look forward to the next stages of the clinical study,” says Magnus Nilsson, XVIVO Perfusion’s CEO.

September 12, 2017
Gothenburg
Magnus Nilsson, CEO
XVIVO Perfusion AB (publ)

For further information please contact:

Christoffer Rosenblad, CFO, +46 735 192159, christoffer.rosenblad@xvivoperfusion.com
Magnus Nilsson, CEO, +46 31 788 2150, magnus.nilsson@xvivoperfusion.com
For further information on XVIVO Perfusion’s business, please refer to the company’s website, www.xvivoperfusion.com

The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 2:40 pm CET on September 12, 2017.

This is a translation of the Swedish version of the press release. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails.