FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 27, 2014) – W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) today announced that Himanshu Patel, MD and David Williams, MD at The University of Michigan enrolled the first patient in the Gore TAG Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis LSA Feasibility Study, a U.S.-based, multi-center feasibility trial. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the investigational device exemption (IDE) trial for the GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms that require coverage of the left subclavian artery (LSA).

“Thoracic aortic aneurysms that encroach on the LSA make treating these challenging anatomies very difficult, leaving physicians no choice but to use more invasive surgical techniques or to cover the branch vessel,” said Dr. Patel. “Using the GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis, we were able to successfully treat the first patient in the study using endovascular means only. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using branched stent-grafts to treat aortic aneurysms that involve the LSA.”

“With this study, we hope to demonstrate that the Gore device allows physicians to safely treat aortic aneurysms near the aortic arch while maintaining blood flow to all branch vessels using endovascular techniques,” said Michael Dake, MD, Principal Investigator and Thelma and Henry Doelger Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. “Gore’s device will reduce the need for invasive surgical procedures commonly required today, thus reducing the complications associated with treatment of this complex disease.”

The GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis builds on more than 15 years of Gore experience in aortic innovation. Designed for long-term durability, the device allows for femoral-only access over a pre-positioned branch guidewire for ease of implantation. The device also features the CARMEDA® BioActive Surface (CBAS® Heparin Surface) for sustained anti-thrombotic bioactivity, as is present on many of Gore’s peripheral vascular products.

“Gore is committed to designing innovative solutions that treat challenging patient populations. Long-term durability and patient outcomes are the cornerstone of our research and development,” said Ryan Takeuchi, Aortic Business Unit Leader at Gore. “We dedicated significant time and effort into the development of our thoracic branch technology and it has become the foundation of our aortic branch portfolio. Earlier this year, we introduced our first branched device with the GORE® EXCLUDER® Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis with much clinical success across Europe. Now with our GORE® TAG® Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis, physicians will be able to treat a subset of patients that could not be considered for total endovascular repair in the past.”

Gore accomplished several key regulatory milestones in 2013. The GORE® EXCLUDER® Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis received CE Mark in October 2013 and is currently available for investigational purposes only in the U.S. Additionally, the FDA approved the Conformable GORE® TAG® Thoracic Endoprosthesis for the treatment of acute and chronic dissections, making it the first and only stent-graft that is FDA approved to treat aneurysms, traumatic transections, and dissections of the thoracic aorta.

The Gore Medical Products Division has provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for more than 35 years. During that time, more than 35 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. The extensive Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair, soft tissue reconstruction, staple line reinforcement and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac, and general surgery. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. For more information, visit www.goremedical.com.

Products listed may not be available in all markets. GORE®, TAG®, EXCLUDER® and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. CARMEDA® and CBAS® are trademarks of Carmeda AB, a wholly owned subsidiary of W. L. Gore & Associates.

Chempetitive Group for W. L. Gore & Associates
Kena Hudson or Rachel Lear
+1 510 908 0966
Contact by email