Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD), maker of the Impella heart pump, has acquired Breethe, developer of a novel extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system that will complement and expand Abiomed’s product portfolio to more comprehensively serve the needs of patients whose lungs can no longer provide sufficient oxygenation, including patients suffering from cardiogenic shock or respiratory failure such as due to ARDS, H1N1, SARS, or COVID-19. ECMO has also been utilized as a primary method of oxygenation and hemodynamic support for pediatric patients.
Patients who require ECMO therapy have a severe and life-threatening illness that stops their lungs from working properly. The system is connected to patients through tubes (cannulae) and is an external respiratory assistance device that takes venous blood, removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen, much like a human lung. Oxygenated blood is then sent back to the patient. Each year, more than 20,000 patients receive ECMO therapy in the United States.
Abiomed recognizes the need for ECMO therapy for patients in need of oxygenation and has supported approximately 10,000 ECMO plus Impella (ECPella TM) patients with cardiogenic shock over the past 10 years. In Japan, more than half of Impella patients receive ECPella for hemodynamic and oxygenation support.
Breethe’s product is a first-of-its kind, easy-to-use compact ECMO system with an integrated oxygen concentrator that eliminates the need for bulky oxygen tanks to promote easier patient ambulation. It has a novel design that is intuitive for health care providers to set up, manage, and monitor. Abiomed invested in Breethe in mid-2019. Breethe has applied for 510(k) clearance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Breethe’s founder and the Hales Distinguished Professor of Surgery at University of Maryland School of Medicine, Bartley Griffith, MD, is a renowned leader in multiple areas of adult cardiac surgery including mechanical circulatory support. Dr. Griffith has collaborated with Abiomed for a number of years and served as the principal investigator of RECOVER I. With decades of experience, Dr. Griffith and his team designed the cutting-edge Breethe system to improve patient outcomes, improve quality of life and reduce total cost of care by changing the way oxygenation is delivered.
“Abiomed is the best positioned company to build on the legacy of what we started,” said Dr. Griffith. “I am confident that the addition of Breethe’s technology into Abiomed’s product portfolio will further enhance Abiomed’s ability to improve outcomes for their patients and serve a new patient population.”
“This acquisition is a natural progression toward improving patient care,” said Matthew D. Bacchetta, MD, associate professor, Department of Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt University. “Breethe’s compact and all-in-one technology aims for improved patient ambulation, which can improve outcomes and promote active rehabilitation for patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.”
Source: BioSpace
