Allied Healthcare’s CardioCel aids heart valve reconstruction

Allied Healthcare (ASX:AHZ) has published some promising results of a pre-clinical study into using its CardioCel cardiovascular patches to reconstruct heart valves.

The company said its testing uncovered significant new tissue growth on both sides of the CardioCel patch following its use in valve reconstruction procedures in animal models of heart disease.

The patch was used in open heart surgical procedures, specifically double valve leaflet reconstruction, to reconstruct the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve and a leaflet within the pulmonary valve.

At eight-month follow-up, echocardiography showed no evidence of macroscopic calcification, and CardioCel active tissue had 40% less calcium than the control native autologous tissue.

Allied Healthcare group managing director Lee Rodne said the most significant result of the study is the first “evidence that the CardioCel patch material appears to enable tissue regeneration... without adding external stimulation like stem cells or growth factors.”

He said further indications of reduced calcification could also result in a reduction in the need for repeat surgeries and the attendant risks.

The CardioCel patch was developed by Allied Healthcare's regenerative medicine division using the company’s ADAPT tissue engineering technology.

The product was used for the first time outside of clinical trials during a procedure in Brisbane last month, under a special access approval arrangement with the TGA.

Allied Healthcare has filed for approval with the TGA, for CE Mark approval in Europe, and is expected to file an application with the US FDA in the next few months.

Allied Healthcare (ASX:AHZ) shares were trading 4.35% higher at 2.4c as of around 3.30pm on Wednesday.