A life-saving heart pump developed by a Swansea medtech firm is expected to go into production later this year, creating around 100 jobs.
Calon Cardio-Technology was co-founded by Dr Marc Clement, the former dean of Swansea University’s School of Management.
He was dismissed by the university together with other academics including the former vice chancellor Dr Richard B Davies following an investigation into alleged conflicts of interest.
Despite Dr Clement’s Calon’s registered office is at Swansea University’s Institute of Life Science.
Now the company has entered a partnership with Leviticus Cardio, an Israeli business that specialises in wireless technology that will see heart pumps produced for the US and EU markets.
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Dr Clement said: “Severe heart failure is the most life-threatening medical condition in all age groups across the globe.
“Implantable heart pumps, known as Ventricular Assist Devices (or VADs), have proven to sustainably increase long term survival.
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“However, due to the need for tethering to an external power source using a cable exiting the body through the abdomen, these devices have not yet been fully accepted as mainstream therapy.
“Now, for the first time globally, a compact, fully implantable VAD (known as FiVAD) has been successfully implemented by combining the Calon Cardio MiniVAD with the versatile, fully implantable wireless energy recharging system of Leviticus Cardio.”
Dr Clement said that a 60-day, pre-clinical study undertaken at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium had successfully validated the integration of the two technologies.
He added: “This new disruptive technology, FiVAD, will allow a patient a full day without a cable or connection to any external equipment whatsoever. The recharging process itself only requires a light belt around the patient’s chest during the night.
“The successful elimination of the electric power cable is a major step forward leading to a near-normal quality of life for these severely ill patients.
“It will convince physicians around the world that VAD therapy has reached the point of routine use and will lead to widespread application of this life saving therapy.”
Dr Clement’s colleague Stuart McConchie, chief executive of Calon, said: “The combination of our MiniVAD, designed to optimise blood handling, and the Leviticus wireless technology provides a safe and usable truly wireless VAD system, representing major progress in blood pump technology.
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“Together this FiVAD will significantly improve the lives of vast numbers of late-stage heart failure patients.”
Michael Zilbershlag, chief executive of Leviticus Cardio, said: “Our study has demonstrated that the combination of the very effective Calon MiniVAD and the Leviticus FiVAD offers for the first time a fully functioning heart pump without the need to be recharged for more than 10 hours allowing freedom from any external equipment for a whole working day.”
The company has been supported financially by the Welsh Government’s Development Bank of Wales, by 海角视频 Government grants, Longbow Capital, and more recently by the 海角视频 Future Fund programme.
Calon has drawn significant support from 海角视频, US, and EU equity investors.
Dr Clement said: “We have been developing this project for the last 18 months. We have a lease on premises in Llansamlet and will be creating around 100 jobs. Production will begin later this year.”
He said that an employment tribunal was due to consider claims of unfair dismissal against Swansea University from himself, Dr Davies and two other academics at a hearing in the summer.