Foldax Announces Successful First Human Use of Tria Biopolymer Mitral Heart Valve

May 28, 2021

Foldax has announced that it has successfully performed the first-in-man Tria Mitral Valve implant. This is another milestone for the Tria LifePolymer valve platform. Strategically, the mitral valve addresses an unmet global need for a more durable mitral valve that doesn’t require lifetime anticoagulants. This is especially important in the many areas where rheumatic fever is still prevalent.

“We thank Dr. Heimansohn and his skilled team at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital for their commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine by successfully performing the first-in-man Tria mitral valve procedure,” said Foldax CEO Frank Maguire.

“We are excited to be the first center in the world to implant the innovative Tria mitral valve as part of this research study. In this first-in-man procedure, we saw an immediate improvement in the functionality of this patient’s heart valve once the valve was in place,” said Dr. Heimansohn. “Since it has been designed to be a more durable artificial valve that may not require lifetime anti-coagulation therapy, it is hoped that Tria will be proven effective through this research study for patients with mitral disease, who are often much younger than patients with other valvular diseases.”

Maguire noted that this new milestone continues to build upon the clinical evidence supporting Foldax’s Tria valves, which includes the ongoing Tria aortic valve study encompassing several patients who have celebrated one year with their implants and are doing well.

“Foldax is clearly breaking new ground in its efforts to revolutionize the heart valve replacement market, said  Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah.

The Tria valves reimagine the heart valve by incorporating a new, proprietary biopolymer – LifePolymer™ – with innovative valve designs intended to resist calcification, withstand stresses and strains without failure, and restore patient quality of life without without failure, and restore patient quality of life without lifelong use of anticoagulants.