MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kips Bay Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:KIPS), a medical device company focused on manufacturing and commercializing its external saphenous vein support technology, eSVS® Mesh, for use in coronary artery bypass grafting, or CABG, surgery, today announced that it has received an updated CE Mark approving use of a new surgical implant technique for its eSVS Mesh.
Feasibility Study Update
On August 20, 2014, the Company received an updated CE Mark approval from its notified body. This updated approval will allow the Company's European study sites to enroll patients in the Company's eMESH I clinical feasibility trial using the changes in the application of the eSVS Mesh to the saphenous vein graft and to the surgical implant technique that were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March of this year.
These changes were based upon the Company's consultations with medical advisors and several of the cardiac surgeons participating in the eMESH I clinical feasibility trial and the Company's initial review of early results from the eMESH I trial. The changes are intended to reduce the variables in the study and the risk of early graft occlusion. Kips Bay also believes these changes will simplify the process of applying and implanting the eSVS Mesh thereby reducing procedural costs.
With this updated CE Mark approval, seven European study sites are now able to enroll study patients in the eMESH I clinical feasibility study using the new implant technique. Three additional international sites have received ethics committee approval and are in the process of finalizing clinical trial agreements in order to begin enrollment, which is expected to commence during the third quarter.
Kips Bay currently has five study sites in the United States, which include the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Emory University, the Lenox Hill Hospital and the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, that are recruiting patients for the trial, and one additional site is expected to be recruiting within the next 60 days.
The eMESH I clinical feasibility trial is a multi-center, randomized study of external saphenous vein graft (SVG) support using the Company's eSVS Mesh in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The objective of the eMESH I clinical feasibility trial is to demonstrate to the FDA the initial safety and performance of the eSVS Mesh for use as an external SVG support device during CABG surgery. If the feasibility trial is successful, the Company intends to use the data from this study as the basis for the filing of a request for an investigational device exemption, or IDE, to perform a larger pivotal study. The pivotal study is required to demonstrate clinical effectiveness and support a premarket approval application filing with the FDA seeking approval to sell the eSVS Mesh in the United States.
About the eSVS Mesh
The eSVS Mesh is designed to be fitted like a sleeve on the outside of saphenous vein grafts to strengthen SVGs used in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. By strengthening the SVG and preventing the damaging expansion of the vein graft, the Company hopes to reduce or prevent the resulting injury which can lead to SVG failure and potentially costly and complicated re-interventions for patients undergoing CABG surgery. The eSVS Mesh is manufactured from nitinol wire which gives the eSVS Mesh considerable strength, while remaining highly flexible and kink-resistant. Additional information about the eSVS Mesh and the Company's feasibility trial are available at the Company's website at www.KipsBayMedical.com and in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Kips Bay Medical
Kips Bay Medical, Inc. is a medical device company focused on manufacturing and commercializing its external saphenous vein support technology, the eSVS Mesh, for use in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Kips Bay originally acquired the eSVS Mesh technology from Medtronic, Inc. in 2007. Additional information about Kips Bay is available at the Company's website at www.KipsBayMedical.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
Statements contained in this release that relate to future events are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations of future events and often can be identified by words such as "continues," "expects," "intends," "should," "will," "may," "believes," "could," "hopes," "anticipates," "objective," "future," other words of similar meaning or the use of future dates. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include Kips Bay's plans and expectations regarding enrollments, site activations and other aspects of its eMESH I clinical feasibility trial; the effect of recent changes in the application of the eSVS Mesh and to the surgical implant technique; and the safety, performance and benefits of the eSVS Mesh. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause Kips Bay's actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by Kips Bay's forward-looking statements. For Kips Bay, such uncertainties and risks include, among others, the status of the eMESH I clinical feasibility trial, including enrollment, completion and the results; Kips Bay's future operating results and financial performance; market size and market acceptance of the eSVS Mesh technology; the ability of Kips Bay and its distributors to commercialize and sell the eSVS Mesh in Europe; and its ability to obtain additional financing. More detailed information on these and other factors that could affect Kips Bay's actual results are described in Kips Bay's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Kips Bay undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Kips Bay Medical, Inc.
Manny Villafaña, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, +1-763-235-3540
Email: Manny.Villafana@KipsBayMedical.com
or
Scott Kellen, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, +1-763-235-3540
Email: Scott.Kellen@KipsBayMedical.com