Sam Brusco, Associate Editor01.03.24
BiVACOR, a clinical-stage company developing a total artificial heart (TAH), has named Jim Dillon as its new CEO and member of the company’s board.
Dillon’s career focus in heart failure has included developing cardiovascular therapies for native heart recovery, reducing size of myocardial infarction, repairing adult and congenital cardiac defects, and volume management for acutely decompensated congestive heart failure patients.
“Jim’s leadership style, combined with his experience in building high-performance teams as well as expertise in the heart failure field, makes him the ideal person to lead BiVACOR,” said BiVACOR’s board chairman Raymond W. Cohen. “We are thrilled to have him join as CEO.”
Dillon has served in a series of corporate strategic and sales leadership roles in successful medical device companies. He was recently CEO of clinical-stage private firm BioVentrix, and had senior executive sales and marketing positions with Abiomed, TherOx, and InfraReDx
“It’s a privilege to lead the BiVACOR team at a pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Dillon. “A Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is unique in its complexity and importance as an advanced treatment option for end-stage biventricular heart failure patients. The BiVACOR TAH device has the potential to truly revolutionize the field.”
In late November, BiVACOR announced FDA approval of an investigational device exemption so the company could to conduct a first-in-human clinical feasibility study of the BiVACOR TAH. The study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of the TAH as a bridge to heart transplant in treating subjects with biventricular heart failure. Initially, three patients will be enrolled at The Texas Heart Institute in Houston.
The study is expected to begin in the first half of 2024.
Dillon’s career focus in heart failure has included developing cardiovascular therapies for native heart recovery, reducing size of myocardial infarction, repairing adult and congenital cardiac defects, and volume management for acutely decompensated congestive heart failure patients.
“Jim’s leadership style, combined with his experience in building high-performance teams as well as expertise in the heart failure field, makes him the ideal person to lead BiVACOR,” said BiVACOR’s board chairman Raymond W. Cohen. “We are thrilled to have him join as CEO.”
Dillon has served in a series of corporate strategic and sales leadership roles in successful medical device companies. He was recently CEO of clinical-stage private firm BioVentrix, and had senior executive sales and marketing positions with Abiomed, TherOx, and InfraReDx
“It’s a privilege to lead the BiVACOR team at a pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Dillon. “A Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is unique in its complexity and importance as an advanced treatment option for end-stage biventricular heart failure patients. The BiVACOR TAH device has the potential to truly revolutionize the field.”
In late November, BiVACOR announced FDA approval of an investigational device exemption so the company could to conduct a first-in-human clinical feasibility study of the BiVACOR TAH. The study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of the TAH as a bridge to heart transplant in treating subjects with biventricular heart failure. Initially, three patients will be enrolled at The Texas Heart Institute in Houston.
The study is expected to begin in the first half of 2024.