Competition Growing in Organ Preservation Equipment Market

Organ transplant storage technology developer Paragonix  recently completed its GUARDIAN-Heart trial in the United States. The study aims to determine whether the company’s SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System technology is equivalent to or better than existing ice-box transplant storage solutions for donor hearts.

The study demonstrates an increasing interest in organ preservation technology and growing market segment for these products. Consequently, the market is likely to innovate further as devices such as the SherpaPak receive additional clinical backing and certification, according to GlobalData.
 
The GlobalData Marketed Products Database counts a total of 50 medical devices for organ transplant procedures and organ storage, including cardiac transplants. An additional 38 devices are currently in development or clinical trials, according to the GlobalData Pipeline Products Database. 
 
“There are several challenges faced by surgeons dealing with donor hearts due to ice-box storage, some of which are caused by temperature fluctuation or contact with the ice itself,” GlobalData Medical Analyst David Beauchamp said. “These challenges can result in severe problems for heart transplant or heart graft patients, which can compromise long-term survival and create additional issues, such as ventricular dysfunction or a reliance on circulatory support post-procedure.”
 
While traditional ice-box devices rely on bags of ice to refrigerate donor hearts, the SherpaPak utilizes a pressurized canister with a cold liquid solution to preserve the organ with significantly fewer uncontrolled variables than other devices. The SherpaPak trial demonstrates that more advanced organ preservation equipment, especially for cardiac operations, is ideal compared to traditional ice-box preservation. 
 
Researchers found that use of the SherpaPak led to a 43% reduction in two-year mortality and a further 5% increase in two-year survival. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in right ventricular dysfunction and the usage of post-operative circulatory support.
 
“The SherpaPak device and similar devices hope to reduce the burden on healthcare systems, which is caused by the nature of transporting donor organs, including hearts. With the greater control over transport variables afforded to physicians by this device, as evidenced by the GUARDIAN-Heart trial, it is probable that post-operative complications from donor hearts can be reduced and patient outcomes improved,” Beauchamp stated.