The development and introduction of percutaneous valve replacement and repair devices will dramatically change the way heart valve disease is treated. According to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG), the market for percutaneous replacement and repair devices will generate an estimated $251 million in revenues by 2008, with Edwards Lifesciences (EW) expected to be the first to receive FDA approval for percutaneous valve technologies.

The market for percutaneous devices will introduce the possibility of treating patients who are not candidates for traditional surgery. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is a nonsurgical technique that increases the opening of a narrowed (stenotic) valve to improve blood flow.

In this procedure, a balloon catheter is inserted into the groin and guided to the heart. The tip of the balloon is maneuvered inside the narrowed valve where it is inflated and deflated several times to widen the valve opening to the physician’s satisfaction. The treatment may be suitable for select patients who have mitral valve stenosis, as well as patients with pulmonic stenosis. It may also be used in older patients who have aortic stenosis, but are unable to undergo surgery.

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) is developing two mitral repair devices, and other interventional cardiology companies are expected to eventually launch with competing products. As such, rapid growth in percutaneous procedure volume will occur once the technologies receive full FDA approval, as discussed in Millennium Research Group’s report US Markets for Valve Replacement and Repair. Leaders in the traditional valve replacement and repair market include Edwards Lifesciences (EW), St. Jude Medical (STJ), Medtronic (MDT), and CarboMedics. Smaller companies such as ATS Medical (ATSI), MCRI, and MedicalCV Inc. also compete in these markets.

A leading source of competitive intelligence, MRG is now the largest provider of medical device market research in the world. Located in Toronto, Canada, MRG covers global markets and has pioneered reporting of numerous emerging products.

Contact Information:
Derrick J. Navarro
Millennium Research Group Inc.,
(416) 364-7776 ext.133
www.mrg.net