World Heart Corp. (MM)【WHRT】株式ニュース

Hi PsD, I copied this from the last 10Q released in May. Our time is drawing nearer each day, IMO.

http://biz.yahoo.com/e/110513/whrt10-q.html

OVERVIEW

Our business is focused on the development and sale of VADs, particularly our Levacor VAD (Levacor VAD or Levacor). VADs are mechanical assist devices that supplement the circulatory function of the heart by re-routing blood flow through a mechanical pump allowing for the restoration of normal blood circulation. The Levacor VAD uses a magnetically levitated rotor resulting in no moving parts subject to wear, which is expected to provide multi-year support. In August 2009, we received conditional approval of our Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Levacor VAD to begin a BTT clinical study. In January 2010, we received unconditional IDE approval from the FDA. In February 2011, the Company decided to pause enrollment in the BTT study while three refinements are made to its Levacor VAD based on initial clinical experience until certain device refinements could be made and the FDA reviews and approves the refinements. These refinements are the projection of the inflow cannula into the ventricle, the elimination of a false alarm that has led to controller exchanges and the optimization of surface finishing/coating manufacturing processes. To date, we have completed refinements related to the projection of the inflow cannula and the elimination of the controller false alarm. We expect the design modification related to the optimization of the surface finishing/coating manufacturing process will be complete in the next two months. However, in light of ongoing communications with the FDA, the timeline for implementation of these refinements is dependent on review and approval by the FDA which is uncertain. We do not expect to receive FDA approval to restart our BTT study any earlier than the end of the third quarter 2011. Due to this uncertainty, it is anticipated that enrollment will not begin any earlier than the end of the third quarter 2011.

VADs are used for treatment of patients with severe heart failure, including patients whose hearts are irreversibly damaged and cannot be treated effectively by medical or surgical means other than transplant. BTT therapy involves implanting a VAD in a transplant eligible patient to maintain or improve the patient's health until a donor heart becomes

available. DT is the implanting of a VAD to provide long-term support for a patient not currently eligible for a natural heart transplant. Bridge-to-Recovery involves the use of VADs to restore a patient's cardiac function helping the natural heart to recover and thereby allowing removal of the VAD.

In addition, we, in conjunction with a consortium consisting of the University of Pittsburgh, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc. (LaunchPoint) have been developing a small, magnetically levitated, rotary pediatric VAD (PediaFlow VAD). The PediaFlow VAD is intended for use in newborns and infants and has been primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In February 2011, the FDA granted Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) designation for the PediaFlow VAD. The HUD designation is given to devices that are intended to benefit patients with conditions that affect fewer than 4,000 patients per year. Under the HUD designation, manufacturers are required to demonstrate safety and the probable benefit of their device.

The technology embodied in the PediaFlow VAD also forms the basis for our small, minimally invasive VAD. The minimally invasive VAD is aimed at providing partial to full circulatory support in both early-stage and late-stage heart failure patients. We expect to be in an adult clinical trial with the minimally invasive VAD in 2014, contingent on our ability to obtain future financing and our ability to satisfactorily complete all regulatory requirements. We are exploring various strategic options to accelerate our development of the minimally invasive VAD.