Press releases

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 6, 2019 -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, today announced that it has received CE Mark to expand use of the Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve for the treatment of patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis who are at low risk for open-heart surgery. The Edwards SAPIEN 3 valve is the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system to have this indication in Europe.

"Now, all European patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis can be considered for TAVI with the SAPIEN 3 valve based on factors such as anatomical considerations or other individual needs rather than risk scores," said Prof. Helge Möllmann, Director, Clinic for Internal Medicine (Cardiology) at St. Johannes Hospital, Dortmund, Germany. "This is particularly important for patients at low risk for surgery, whose only serious health issue may be aortic stenosis and who want to return to their lives more safely and quickly. Previously, their only treatment option was open-heart surgery, and this approval will expand access to the proven SAPIEN 3 valve."

This indication expansion in Europe follows on the publication earlier this year of data from the pivotal PARTNER 3 trial, an independently evaluated, randomized clinical trial comparing outcomes between TAVI and open-heart surgery in patients with a low surgical risk. TAVI with the SAPIEN 3 system achieved superiority, with a 46 percent reduction in the event rate for the primary endpoint of the trial, which was a composite of all-cause mortality, all stroke and rehospitalization at one year. The data were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

An additional study examining quality of life in the PARTNER 3 patients, which was published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, demonstrated significant early and sustained advantages for low-risk patients treated with the SAPIEN 3 valve. When the treatment strategies of TAVI and surgery were compared for low-risk patients, the TAVI patients improved more rapidly than surgery patients. This study showed, for the first time, patients treated with the SAPIEN 3 valve experienced a better quality of life even one year after the procedure.

The SAPIEN TAVI valves are the most widely studied transcatheter valves, with more than 30,000 patients treated in clinical trials and registries in over 65 countries around the world.  Since the first commercial approval of the SAPIEN transcatheter valve in Europe in 2007, the SAPIEN family of valves have treated hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. The more advanced SAPIEN 3 TAVI system, first approved in Europe in January 2014 for the treatment of high-risk patients and then expanded to intermediate-risk patients, builds on Edwards' decades of experience in the development of tissue heart valves, and the proven benefits of the Edwards SAPIEN valves. While prior experience demonstrates that it takes some time for clinical practice to evolve, this new low-risk indication for the SAPIEN 3 valve in Europe should facilitate changes in clinical practice guidelines and reimbursement, to improve future access for patients.

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 regarding treatment rates, product benefits  and patient access. 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 results 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 developments in regulatory or reimbursement matters, or unanticipated quality, manufacturing or regulatory issues.  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, 2018. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at edwards.com.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Edwards SAPIEN, Edwards SAPIEN 3, SAPIEN, SAPIEN 3, PARTNER and PARTNER 3 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This statement is made on behalf of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and its subsidiaries.