Thoratec Makes Investment in BioCardia

In a move to expand the company's therapies for heart failure, Thoratec Corp. (Pleasanton, CA, USA) has made an equity investment in BioCardia, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA, USA), which is developing new tools to enable the local delivery of biotherapeutics to the heart.

Under the terms of the investment agreement, Thoratec will partner with BioCardia to explore opportunities for developing devices for the surgical delivery of biotherapeutics; have limited exclusive rights to negotiate the distribution, licensing, or purchase of delivery technology developed by BioCardia; and through an observational board be able to review relevant clinical data accumulated by BioCardia through its multiple trials. Financial details were not disclosed.

BioCardia has developed a device called the Helical Infusion Catheter System, which offers a corkscrew-shaped needle delivery platform. The system is based on original pacemaker lead-fixation technology and enables the needle to be affixed in the heart muscle, providing a consistent dosage while preventing cell migration, leakage, and back flow. The system has performed well in preclinical studies and initial results from early human safety studies have been positive. BioCardia is also initiating three biotherapeutic clinical studies of two cell therapies and a gene therapy for other unmet cardiovascular indications.

"We believe that our joint efforts in this area may complement Thoratec's ongoing efforts in the development of assist devices as a destination therapy or bridge to recovery,” said D. Keith Grossman, president and CEO of Thoratec.




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