Effect of Near Monopoly in the Left Ventricular Assist Device Market

In 2001, the Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart (REMATCH) trial changed the trajectory of the treatment of heart failure when results revealed a clinically meaningful survival benefit and an improved quality of life in patients with the HeartMate XVE left ventricular assist device (LVAD).1 Nearly 2 decades later, LVADs evolved and the results of the ENDURANCE trial revealed that 2 continuous-flow LVADs were noninferior to each other. The HeartWare LVAD (HVAD) was associated with a higher risk of stroke, whereas the use of the HeartMate II (HM2) was associated with more frequent device malfunction, thus requiring surgical intervention.
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research