Author: Ken Dropiewski

Volta Medical Artificial Intelligence-guided Cardiac Ablation Procedure Improves Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

AI-Guided Cardiac Ablation in combination with pulmonary vein isolation was superior to the standard of care in the treatment of Persistent Atrial FibrillationVolta Medical Announces Publication of Landmark Clinical Trial in Nature Medicine. This trial marks the first large-scale demonstration of the benefits of AI in interventional cardiology. MARSEILLE, France, Feb. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Volta Medical, a pioneering health technology company developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to assist electrophysiologists, today announced the publication of the landmark TAILORED-AF clinical trial in Nature Medicine, which demonstrated that an AI-guided procedure for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in combination with conventional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) treatment, resulted in better outcomes than PVI alone. In particular, the study showed superiority in the percentage of patients that achieved freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) with or without anti-arrhythmic drugs at 12 months after a tailored cardiac ablation guided by AI in combination with PVI when compared to PVI alone. Despite advances in catheter ablation technology, persistent AF remains one of the most challenging subtypes of atrial fibrillation to treat, affecting over 70% of all patients with atrial fibrillation globally.i The TAILORED-AF clinical trial is the first large-scale transatlantic randomized controlled trial (RCT) of ablation in a persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) population to show the benefit of going beyond conventional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)-only extra-pulmonary vein procedure. Previous studies looking at ablation strategies for persistent AF patients have not demonstrated superior efficacy to PVI alone. The Volta AF-Xplorer™ is a digital AI companion designed to assist cardiologists with real-time identification of specific abnormal electrograms (EGMs) known as spatio-temporal dispersed EGMs, this technology was used in the TAILORED-AF trial. “Previously, there has not been a replicable, effective treatment strategy for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. Volta’s AI solution finally offers a solution for this large and underserved patient population,” said Théophile Mohr-Durdez, CEO and co-founder of Volta Medical. “The TAILORED-AF trial, highlights AI’s ability to help physicians treat cardiovascular disease and improve patient outcomes. In fact, this is the first large-scale international RCT in interventional cardiology demonstrating superior efficacy through the use of AI.” Summary and Results: Tailored vs. Anatomical Ablation Strategy for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (TAILORED-AF) Study In the clinical trial, adults with symptomatic persistent or long-standing persistent AF who were candidates for a first-time ablation were enrolled in Europe and the United States. A total of 187 patients underwent a tailored cardiac ablation guided by Volta’s AI in addition to PVI (Tailored cohort), and 183 patients received the conventional treatment of PVI-only (Anatomical cohort) and all were followed up for 12 months. A total of 51 electrophysiologists at 26 centers in 5 countries across the US and the EU participated. For access to the full publication visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03517-w. The trial met the primary endpoint by demonstrating superior results in patients assigned to the Tailored cohort compared to the Anatomical cohort. 88% of patients in the Tailored cohort experienced freedom from AF 12 months after one procedure with or without anti-arrhythmic drugs compared to 70% in the Anatomical cohort (log rank p < 0.0001).In the Tailored cohort, patients experienced a higher rate of freedom from any arrhythmia after 1.2 procedures than in the Anatomical cohort (79% vs. 71%, log rank p < 0.01). Recurrences in the Tailored cohort were regarded as a “simplification” of AF which are generally easier to ablate and can be seen as a step towards stable sinus rhythm.The trial also examined several pre-specified secondary endpoints and a pre-specified subgroup analysis of patients with sustained persistent AF lasting 6 months or longer prior to enrollment. These patients represent a more advanced AF disease progression. Patients in the Tailored cohort experienced a significantly higher rate of freedom from any arrhythmia after one single procedure than in the Anatomical cohort (62% vs. 48%, log rank p = 0.04).The safety endpoint did not differ between the groups, although the procedure and ablation time were twice as long in the Tailored arm, consistent with treatment time for other PVI+ methods. “Atrial fibrillation, when left untreated, doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a 5-fold increased risk for stroke. However, advancements in AI are transforming this landscape,” said Seth Goldbarg, MD, FACC, FHRS, Cardiologist, NewYork-Presbyterian, Queens. “This trial featuring AI-guided assessment of AF represents a true milestone for improvement of outcomes for this underserved and difficult to treat patient community.” About Atrial Fibrillation The American Heart Association defines AF as a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.ii Approximately 33 million patients worldwide are living with AF.iii,iv Even though untreated AF doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a 5-fold increased risk for stroke, many patients are unaware that AF is a serious condition. It is estimated that only 15% of the eligible 2.5 million US patients with AF are currently being treated with catheter ablation.v About Volta Medical Volta Medical is a health technology company developing artificial intelligence software solutions with the aim of assisting cardiac electrophysiologists during arrhythmia treatment procedures to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Founded by three physicians and a data scientist in 2016 in Marseille, France, the company’s mission is to improve cardiac arrhythmia management by developing state-of-the-art, data-driven medical devices trained on large databases of procedural data. The Volta AF-Xplorer™ is a digital AI companion designed to assist cardiologists with real-time identification of specific abnormal electrograms (EGMs) known as spatio-temporal dispersed EGMs during AF and atrial tachycardia procedures. The AF-Xplorer™ has been engineered for versatility and its use has been demonstrated with the most popular AF mapping and recording systems, as well as with the most common ablation modalities. The solution is U.S. FDA 510(k) cleared and European CE Mark approved. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.volta-medical.com. Volta Medical has created a therapy awareness program AI for Persistent AF Care designed to educate the underserved AF patient community, for more information, visit www.aiforafib.com. U.S. Media ContactGlenn SilverFinn Partnersglenn.silver@finnpartners.comVolta ContactJeff Martin, SVP of Global MarketingVolta Medical jeffrey.martin@volta-medical.com References David DeLurgio, Jaswinder Gill, Syed Ahsan, Riyaz Kaba, Kristen M Plasseraud, Michael E Halkos, Hybrid Convergent Procedure for the Treatment of Persistent and Long-standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review 2021;10(3):198–204. https://doi.org/10.15420/aer.2021.24https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation [last accessed June 9, 2023]Colilla S, Crow A, Petku W, Singer DE, Simon T, Liu X. Estimates of current and future incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the U.S. adult population. Am J Cardiol 2013; 112:1142–1147. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.05.063https://kompetenznetz-vorhofflimmern.de/en [last accessed June 9, 2023]https://www.mddionline.com/cardiovascular/medtronic-makes-a-double-play-for-atrial-fibrillation

RenovoRx Highlights Promising Pre-Clinical Data Abstract: TAMP™ Therapy Platform Offers Potential to Improve Localized and Targeted Drug Delivery

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–RenovoRx, Inc. (“RenovoRx” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RNXT), a life sciences company developing novel targeted oncology therapies and commercializing RenovoCath, an innovative, FDA-cleared device, highlighted its recent abstract presentation at the 2025 Society of Interventional Oncology Annual Conference (“SIO 2025”) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The abstract published promising […]

Prenuvo Announces it Had Raised $120M to Advance Preventative Health, Launches Novel FDA-Cleared AI-Powered Products

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Prenuvo, the leader in proactive whole-body MRI screening, today disclosed that it quietly raised $120M as part of Series B fundraising during 2024, demonstrating its category leadership in preventative health. The company has identified over 1.4 million personalized health insights across its member base, highlighting the critical […]

AtriCure Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

MASON, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRC), a leading innovator in surgical treatments and therapies for atrial fibrillation (Afib), left atrial appendage (LAA) management and post-operative pain management, today announced fourth quarter 2024 and full year 2024 financial results. “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted Income (Adjusted EBITDA)” Post this “2024 was another outstanding […]

HeartBeam Announces Pricing of $10.0 Million Underwritten Public Offering of Common Stock

HeartBeam system was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comprehensive arrhythmia assessment 510(k) application submitted to the FDA for the Company’s groundbreaking 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) synthesis software Funding is part of the Company’s strategic plan focusing on key growth milestones and preparation for U.S. commercialization […]

WhiteSwell Announces New Data Supporting Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Treatment with eLym System

Results from expanded cohort of ongoing DELTA-HF study show patients were decongested with stable renal function and with few rehospitalizations at 90 days following treatment eLym System recently received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) February 13, 2025 08:50 AM Eastern Standard Time GALWAY, Ireland–(BUSINESS […]

Jefferson Appoints Surgeon Dr. Joseph E. Bavaria as Executive Director of the Bruce and Robbi Toll Heart and Vascular Institute and Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University

Dr. Bavaria formally joined Jefferson Health and the University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College on January 15, 2025 PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jefferson kicked off American Heart Month and demonstrated the organization’s commitment to cardiovascular care with the…

IRADIMED CORPORATION Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2024 Financial Results and Increases its Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend to $0.17 Per Share from $0.15 Per Share

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IRADIMED CORPORATION (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: IRMD) announced today its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024. The Company is a leader in the development of innovative magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) medical devices and the Company is the only known provider of a (i) non-magnetic intravenous (“IV”) infusion pump system and (ii) a non-magnetic patient vital signs monitoring system that are each designed for use during MRI procedures.

BioCardia Reports Completion of Low Dose Cohort Enrollment for CardiALLO Phase I/II Clinical Trial of BCDA-03 Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Ischemic Heart Failure of Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Focus on Patients with Elevated Markers of Heart Stress and Inflammation Procedural enhancement using FDA Approved Morph DNA steerable guide for therapeutic delivery SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioCardia, Inc. [Nasdaq: BCDA], a global leader in cellular and cell-derived therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, announced today completion of enrollment and dosing in the low dose cohort in its CardiALLO™ Allogeneic Mesenchymal Cell Therapy Phase I/II trial. The trial is designed to treat patients with ischemic heart failure of reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is believed to be the world’s first prospective trial of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) intended for treating HFrEF patients having elevated markers of heart stress and systemic inflammation. “This novel investigational cell therapy has great potential to help these patients, who suffer from significant lifestyle limitations despite receiving guideline directed medical therapy,” said Carl Pepine, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Gainesville, and National Principal Investigator for the study. “The higher dosing and precision medicine for patients most likely to be responsive to this novel allogeneic therapy are very promising enhancements.” “The treatment procedures have gone well, and we look forward to the first independent safety review,” said R. David Anderson, M.D., Professor of Medicine in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Director of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization, and Principal Investigator for the study at the University of Florida at Gainesville. “As part of this therapy, we are utilizing the Morph DNA guide to navigate, enhancing physician control for cell delivery. Based on experience to date in this study, it is a compelling product improvement.” The CardiALLO Heart Failure Trial is a Phase I/II study with an open label Phase I nine-patient dose escalation cohort, followed by a thirty-patient randomized double-blinded placebo procedure-controlled cohort, intended to develop support for safety and efficacy of this treatment. For Phase I, three patients are to be treated at one of three escalating doses of 20 million cells, 100 million cells, and 200 million cells, using BioCardia’s minimally invasive delivery system which enters the heart through a blood vessel. A two-week waiting period between each dose cohort is built into the study design with a formal Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) review following each dose. These proprietary CardiALLO human cells and their dedicated proprietary catheter delivery system are manufactured at BioCardia’s facility in Sunnyvale, California. The first DSMB review is expected to take place in March 2025. The “off the shelf” mesenchymal stem cells utilized for the study treatment are believed to act by providing immunomodulatory benefits in inflammatory disease mediated heart failure as well as microvascular repair promoting enhanced capillary density and reduced fibrosis. This program follows two previous clinical trials of allogeneic MSC delivered intramyocardially for patients with ischemic heart failure sponsored by BioCardia1,2. These completed trials provide evidence for safety and trends of efficacy for these allogeneic cells which have not required immunosuppression or produced arrhythmias. “We have confidence in the CardiALLO MSC program whose current study is intended to position this therapy for pivotal clinical studies in the United States and conditional time limited approval in Japan,” said Peter Altman, PhD, BioCardia President and CEO. “Our enhanced manufacturing of these MSC is expected to be commercially scalable. The CardiALLO MSC development is synergistic to our autologous CardiAMP mononuclear cell therapy development, which has shown great promise and has potential to be many years closer to market, particularly if the upcoming data to be presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in March confirms the interim results.” BioCardia’s allogeneic MSC manufacturing for the CardiALLO MSC program is able to support partnering for its PulmAllo™ MSC acute respiratory distress IND3, an indication where a conditional approval in Japan is expected for MSC4, as well as other preclinical and clinical indications where partners may have interest. A first MSC therapy was recently approved in the United States5. About BioCardia BioCardia, Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is developing cellular and cell-derived therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. CardiAMP™ autologous and CardiALLO allogeneic cell therapies are the Company’s biotherapeutic platforms for the treatment of heart disease. BioCardia also acts as a biotherapeutic delivery partner supporting therapies for the treatment of heart failure, chronic myocardial ischemia, and acute myocardial infarction. For more information visit: www.BioCardia.com. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the mechanisms of action of CardiALLO MSC therapy, future enrollment in our ongoing clinical trial, anticipated milestones and events, the likelihood of safety and patient benefit, future regulatory approvals, and the ultimate success of our clinical cell therapy programs. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. We may use terms such as “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company’s liquidity position and its ability to raise additional funds, as well as the Company’s ability to successfully progress its clinical trials. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in BioCardia’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2024, under the caption titled “Risk Factors” and in its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. BioCardia expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. References: Hare JM, Fishman JE, Gerstenblith G, DiFede Velazquez DL, Zambrano JP, Suncion VY, Tracy M, Ghersin E, Johnston PV, Brinker JA, Breton E, Davis-Sproul J, Schulman IH, Byrnes J, Mendizabal AM, Lowery MH, Rouy D, Altman P, Wong Po Foo C, Ruiz P, Amador A, Da Silva J, McNiece IK, Heldman AW, George R, Lardo A. Comparison of allogeneic vs autologous bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells delivered by transendocardial injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: the POSEIDON randomized trial. JAMA. 2012 Dec 12;308(22):2369-79. Erratum in: JAMA. 2013 Aug 21;310(7):750. George, Richard [added]; Lardo, Albert [added]. PMID: 23117550; PMCID: PMC4762261.Florea V, Rieger AC, DiFede DL, El-Khorazaty J, Natsumeda M, Banerjee MN, Tompkins BA, Khan A, Schulman IH, Landin AM, Mushtaq M, Golpanian S, Lowery MH, Byrnes JJ, Hendel RC, Cohen MG, Valasaki K, Pujol MV, Ghersin E, Miki R, Delgado C, Abuzeid F, Vidro-Casiano M, Saltzman RG, DaFonseca D, Caceres LV, Ramdas KN, Mendizabal A, Heldman AW, Mitrani RD, Hare JM. Dose Comparison Study of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (The TRIDENT Study). Circ Res. 2017 Nov 10;121(11):1279-1290.NCT 05491681: AllogeneiC Expanded Human MSC Therapy in Patients Recovering From COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Trial (ACE_CARD)Helios Press release January 15, 2025: “Status of Conditional and Time-Limited Approval Application for ARDS in Japan (Clinical Part)”https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/ryoncil CONTACT: Media Contact:
Miranda Peto, Investor Relations
Email: mpeto@BioCardia.com
Phone: 650-226-0120

Investor Contact:
David McClung, Chief Financial Officer
Email: investors@BioCardia.com
Phone: 650-226-0120