United Therapeutics Corporation Announces the 500th Lung Transplant Utilizing its Centralized Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Service
Unique centralized service helps increase the supply of lungs for transplant, addressing a critical unmet need
The 500th transplant was completed in
“At United Therapeutics, our founding purpose has always been to save and improve lives through innovative technologies like those that expand the availability of transplantable organs and organ alternatives,” said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of United Therapeutics. “We are proud of the groundbreaking accomplishments at LBE, and this important milestone serves as a testament to directly fulfilling our public benefit purpose by providing life-changing opportunities for those in need. This critical effort would not be possible without the tireless dedication of the LBE staff, the skilled physicians and hospital teams with whom we partner, and the patients and families we serve. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of so many, and we are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us.”
Lungs are among the most fragile and difficult organs to transplant. They are susceptible to injuries and infections, with only about 20 percent of donor lungs in the
EVLP is a technique used to evaluate donor lungs outside of the human body. It has emerged as an important tool for transplant physicians to increase the number of lungs available for transplant. EVLP involves flushing, ventilating, and heating donor lungs to normal body temperatures while gathering data on the lungs for real-time transmission for review by transplant physicians and other transplant program team members. For example, when lungs do not meet standard direct-to-transplant criteria, they are often discarded. With the help of EVLP, lungs can be monitored and clinically assessed to help transplant centers determine transplant suitability.
In each case, LBE clinical specialists review donor information with transplant centers and organ procurement organizations to determine whether the proposed organ is suitable for EVLP. LBE clinical specialists then use an FDA-approved EVLP device, or alternatively as part of a clinical trial, an EVLP device under development by LBE called the Centralized Lung Evaluation System (CLES), to gather data. LBE transmits EVLP data and communicates with transplant practitioners in real time using its proprietary OrganVue™ software.
LBE’s staff of more than 30 professionals provide EVLP services at facilities located in
Added Dr. Rothblatt: “As we look ahead at the unmet need, we are committed to building on the success of our centers of excellence in
LBE’s centralized EVLP service is part of the broader xeno and organ alternative development platform at United Therapeutics. This platform consists of four key technologies – xenotransplantation, bio-artificial organ alternatives, regenerative medicine, and 3D bioprinting – providing manufactured alternatives for four human organs – heart, kidney, liver, and lung. United Therapeutics’ Miromatrix subsidiary recently initiated a phase 1 study of miroliverELAP™, the first bioengineered organ alternative to enter human clinical studies. United Therapeutics plans to initiate the first clinical study of the UKidney™ xenokidney in 2025, contingent on satisfactory FDA review of an investigational new drug application and concurrent investigational new animal drug application.
About Lung Bioengineering
Lung Bioengineering Inc. (LBE) owns and operates the first and only full-service ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) centers in
United Therapeutics: Enabling Inspiration
At United Therapeutics, our vision and mission are one. We use our enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence to innovate for the unmet medical needs of our patients and to benefit our other stakeholders. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, we do good. We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation (PBC). Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through (a) the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and (b) technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.
You can learn more about what it means to be a PBC here: unither.com/pbc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included in this press release that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, our goals for LBE’s integrated EVLP service to reduce resource burdens from donation to transplant and increase organ utilization; our plans to open additional centralized EVLP centers in
ORGANVUE, MIROLIVERELAP, and UKIDNEY are trademarks of United Therapeutics Corporation and its subsidiaries.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241023762679/en/
For Further Information Contact:
Dewey Steadman at (202) 919-4097 (investors/media)
Catherine Sheehy at (202) 352-4995 (sustainability/responsibility)
Harry Silvers at (301) 578-1401 (investors)
https://ir.unither.com/contact-ir/
Source: United Therapeutics Corporation
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