DENVER, Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, today announced new data demonstrating substantial economic advantages of the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic heart valve for patients suffering from severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) who are at intermediate risk for open-heart surgery. Results of the economic analysis, which is the first-of-its-kind report on intermediate-risk patients, were presented as a late-breaking clinical trial at the 29th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, in Denver.
The economic analysis of the SAPIEN 3 valve compared to surgery involved more than 2,000 patients enrolled in both the PARTNER II A Trial and the SAPIEN 3 intermediate risk trial. The analysis showed significantly lower total one-year costs, on average, with the SAPIEN 3 valve compared with surgical aortic valve replacement ($80,977 vs. $96,489). Average index hospitalization costs, which include the costs of the procedure, hospital stay and physician fees, were also lower with the SAPIEN 3 valve versus surgery ($54,256 vs. $58,410). Reduced length of stay, simpler, more efficient procedures, fewer repeat hospitalizations, and less time in rehabilitation contributed to the economically dominant results of the SAPIEN 3 valve. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the SAPIEN 3 valve added 0.27 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) per patient at a lifetime cost savings of approximately $10,000 compared with surgery. The SAPIEN 3 intermediate risk trial enrolled patients during 2014.
"Based on both clinical and economic considerations, these findings demonstrate that TAVR should be the preferred strategy for patients with severe aortic stenosis at intermediate surgical risk," said David J. Cohen, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Director of Cardiovascular Research at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, who presented the study results. "Taken together with previous data demonstrating excellent clinical outcomes and significantly improved quality of life with TAVR, this latest study shows that TAVR with the SAPIEN 3 valve also provides important short and long-term economic advantages compared with surgery."
The researchers also performed an analysis of the SAPIEN XT valve compared with surgery, using data from the randomized PARTNER II A Trial on 1,938 patients enrolled from 2011 to 2013. According to the researchers, over a lifetime, TAVR with the SAPIEN XT valve was also projected to be an economically dominant strategy, providing both greater quality-adjusted life expectancy and lower long-term costs than surgery, with a high degree of confidence. The SAPIEN XT valve is no longer utilized in clinical practice in the United States; instead, the next generation SAPIEN 3 valve is utilized in the U.S. and most other geographies worldwide.
The Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve was approved by the FDA in 2015 for severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis patients at high risk for open-heart surgery, and, in 2016, received approval for the treatment of patients who are at intermediate risk for open-heart surgery. The SAPIEN 3 valve builds on Edwards' decades of experience in the development of tissue heart valves, and the proven benefits of the Edwards SAPIEN valves.
Dr. Cohen is a consultant to Edwards Lifesciences. The PARTNER II Trial was sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences.
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences, based in Irvine, Calif., is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company collaborates with the world's leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives. For more information, visit www.Edwards.com and follow us on Twitter @EdwardsLifesci.
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements by Dr. Cohen and statements regarding expected product benefits and future procedural outcomes. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the roll-out and benefits of the technology to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors including but not limited to unexpected outcomes after longer-term clinical experience, or unexpected changes or delays related to product manufacturing or clinical practice. These factors are detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our filings, along with important product safety information, are available at www.Edwards.com.
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