Study: Paragonix SherpaPak Can Reduce Unpredictable, Severe Heart Transplant Complications

Paragonix Technologies Inc. is sharing new research from a multi-center study on patient outcomes after heart transplant surgery.

The study compared the use of the Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared and CE-marked donor heart transport and preservation device, to the use of conventional ice storage for LVAD patients undergoing heart transplants. The study focused on short term post-transplant outcomes, and utilized data collected by the GUARDIAN-Heart Registry, the world’s largest clinical database specifically dedicated to heart preservation.

“The data suggests this device is an important tool for clinicians to reduce risk in heart transplantation. In clinical practice, we as clinicians are considering a multitude of recipient, donor and organ factors to ensure success of the transplant. It’s highly encouraging that this technology was found to have a strong positive effect on unpredictable, severe complications in heart transplantation for patients who are bridged to transplant with an LVAD,” said Dr. Joseph Lerman, Clinical Research Fellow at Duke Clinical Research Institute.
 
The U.S. Multi-Center Early Post-Transplant Outcomes In LVAD Patients Analysis of the GUARDIAN Registry included 327 adult patients. The study compared outcomes of patients transplanted with hearts preserved in the Paragonix SherpaPak and with conventional ice storage. The researchers also analyzed several known risk variables for severe Primary Graft Function (PGD), which have been the subject of decades of clinical research. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that use of the Paragonix SherpaPak CTS was associated with a significantly reduced risk of PGD (44% reduction, P=0.045), and severe PGD (69% reduction, P=0.009).¹ In addition, Paragonix SherpaPak had the strongest effect out of all of the variables analyzed in the study, including recipient age and total ischemic time. 
 
“This research has demonstrated that the SherpaPak can be a tool for heart transplant surgeons to control the complications associated with high-risk heart transplant recipients. With each subsequent analysis of the GUARDIAN Heart Registry, now with over 1,500 enrolled patients who have undergone heart transplantation, the data generated by the researchers continues to show improved clinical outcomes when utilizing Advanced Organ Preservation with the SherpaPak in a direct comparison to traditional ice storage,” Paragonix President/CEO Dr. Lisa Anderson stated. “We are witnessing a paradigm shift in the standard of care for donor organ preservation, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of that movement, providing every possible advantage for transplant patients.”
 
Paragonix Technologies provides advanced organ preservation (AOP) devices that safeguard donor organs during the journey between donor and recipient patients. Its devices incorporate cold preservation techniques that allow physical and thermal protection to the organ in transit. Every Paragonix AOP device natively integrates with its novel digital app, delivering real-time organ tracking data and monitoring logistics for transplant teams seeking a secure and centralized solution.

Reference
¹ Lerman, Joseph, et al. Early Post Transplant Outcomes In LVAD Patients Undergoing Heart Transplant Via Use of the SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System as Compared with Traditional Cold Storage: Insights From the GUARDIAN Registry. Moderated Poster Presentation at ACC 2023.