Results of Landmark Wearable Defibrillator Trial to Be Presented as ACC.18 Late-Breaker

CHELMSFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ZOLL^® Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that findings from the “Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial” (VEST Trial) on use of the ZOLL LifeVest^® wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) will be presented as a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual Scientific Session on Saturday, March 10, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Results will be presented by Jeffrey E. Olgin, MD, FACC, co-principal investigator, Professor and Chief of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco Heart and Vascular Center.

The VEST Trial studied the use of the LifeVest WCD for patients who had recently suffered a heart attack (clinically known as a myocardial infarction or “MI”) and had a reduced heart function (defined as a low-ejection fraction or “EF” of 35 percent or less). The trial enrolled 2,300 low-EF, post-MI patients, with or without revascularization (such as a stent placement or bypass procedure), age 18 or older across more than 100 trial sites in four countries. Patients were randomized to receive the LifeVest WCD with medications or medications alone for 90 days to determine the potential mortality benefit of the LifeVest WCD.

The VEST Trial results will be presented and discussed during the following sessions:

• A Late-Breaking Clinical Trial presentation titled, “Efficacy of a Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator after Myocardial Infarction: Results of the Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial (VEST)” by Dr. Olgin on Saturday, March 10, 2018 during the 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET session in the Main Tent, Hall C.
• A press conference for registered media will immediately follow the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session at 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET on March 10 in room #224 ABC.
• A presentation titled, “Protecting Patients at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: Results of the Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death (VEST) Trial” by Dr. Olgin on Monday, March 12, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET in Industry-Expert Theater 1, Expo Hall, #704.

The LifeVest WCD is prescribed for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), including patients with a low-EF who have recently suffered a heart attack or have a new diagnosis of heart failure. Ejection fraction, a measure of the heart’s pumping ability, is the most powerful predictor of long-term mortality.¹ Numerous clinical studies demonstrate the risk of mortality in low-EF patients is highest in the first 90 days for following a cardiac event, such as a heart attack or a new diagnosis of heart failure, including high mortality from SCD.^1,2,3,4,5,6

The LifeVest WCD continuously monitors the patient’s heart and, if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected, the device delivers a treatment shock to restore normal heart rhythm. LifeVest gives physicians time to optimize medical therapy and assess a patient’s long-term risk for sudden death. LifeVest allows patients to return to their common activities of daily living, while having the peace of mind they are protected from SCD.

The 2017 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Guideline for Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death includes recommended use of the WCD for a wide range of patients at risk of SCD, including those who have a low-EF following a heart attack or a new diagnosis of heart failure.

LifeVest will be showcased in Booth 1801 in the West Concourse, along with additional products from ZOLL including the ZOLL R Series^® Monitor Defibrillator, AutoPulse^® Resuscitation System, and the Hospital Wearable Defibrillator.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, therapeutic temperature management, and ventilation, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and acute critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.

About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the material, homes, and health care business sectors. Its health care operations include devices and systems for acute critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents. With more than 30,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/.

¹Halkin A et al. Prediction of mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: CADILLAC risk score. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45:1397–1405.
²Solomon SD et al. Sudden death in patients with myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, or both. NEJM. 2005;352:2581–2588.
³Adabag AS et al. Sudden death after myocardial infarction. JAMA. 2008;300(17):2022–2029.
⁴Zishiri ET et al. Early risk of mortality after coronary artery revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and potential role of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2013;6:117–128.
⁵Weintraub W et al. Prediction of long-term mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention in older adults: Results from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry. Circulation. 2012;125:1501–1510.
⁶Packer M et al. The effect of carvedilol on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. NEJM. 1996;334(21):1349–1355.
⁷Kutyifa V et al. Use of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator in high-risk cardiac patients: Data from the prospective registry of patients using the wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WEARIT-II Registry). Circulation. 2015;132(17):1613–1619.

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