Ventracor implant not implicated in patient death

Artificial heart developer Ventracor (ASX:VCR) has reported that the fifth patient to be implanted with the company's VentrAssist device has died at the Alfred Hospital, about a month after receiving the implant.

The patient is the second to die in the trial to date. But the company said it was not unexpected that patients would die during the course of the trial -- all of the participants were gravely ill at the time of the implant, and no longer responded to optimal therapy.

No further details were released regarding the cause of the patient's death, but a company spokesperson said the device was not the cause.

Of the other three patients who have received the device, all have been discharged from hospital. The device has successfully supported the first two patients for eight months and six months respectively.

The death is not expected to have an impact on the completion of the pilot trial and commencement of the pivotal trial, scheduled to begin mid-year.

Ventracor's share price softened as a result of the announcement, dropping seven per cent to AUD$1.71 at the time of writing.