Reva touts first implant of bioresorbable scaffold in Turkey

Reva Medical (ASX:RVA) said today that the company launched its Fantom bioresorbable scaffold in Turkey.

There are nearly 100 hospitals performing cardiac catheterizations in Istanbul, according to Reva. The San Diego, Calif.-based company highlighted Turkey as an important market for bioresorbable technologies, noting that it has a commercial distribution deal in the country with Kardionet Healthcare and Foreign Trading.

The first implants of Reva’s Fantom device occurred at three hospitals in Turkey. The procedures were performed by Bilal Boztosun, chief of cardiology at the Mega Medipol University Hospital, Ömer Göktekin, chief of cardiology at the Memorial B. Evler Hospital and Ismail Ates, chief of cardiology at the Medical Park Hospital.

Reva’s second-generation bioresorbable scaffold, the Fantom device, is made from a proprietary polymer that improves ease-of-use and gives the product a thinner profile and full x-ray visibility, the company touted.

“During the implant procedure I was impressed with how easy Fantom was able to be delivered to the target location in comparison to first generation bioresorbable scaffolds,” Boztosun said in prepared remarks. “The x-ray visibility enabled me to visualize Fantom and accurately place the device with ease.”

“Our experience with Kardionet so far indicates that we chose the right partner for commercialization in Turkey,” CEO Reggie Groves added. “We have hit all of our second quarter milestones including local registration approval, training, product shipments, and now the first implants. The successful approach we have established in Turkey will be our model for several additional commercial distribution partnerships we plan to initiate in the next six to 12 months.”

Reva is positioning its sirolimus-eluting scaffold as an alternative to metallic stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

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