Boston Scientific has announced a global recall of all unused inventory of its Lotus Edge transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system due to complexities associated with the product delivery system.
In a statement, the company said that the recall is related solely to the delivery system, as the valve continues to achieve positive and clinically effective performance post-implant, adding that there is no safety issue for patients who currently have an implanted Lotus Edge valve.
Given the additional time and investment required to develop and reintroduce an enhanced delivery system for the valve the company has chosen to retire the entire Lotus product platform immediately. All related commercial, clinical, research & development and manufacturing activities will also cease.
“While we have been pleased with the benefits the Lotus Edge valve has provided to patients, we have been increasingly challenged by the intricacies of the delivery system required to allow physicians to fully reposition and recapture the valve,” said Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. “The complexity of the delivery system, manufacturing challenges, the continued need for further technical enhancements, and current market adoption rates led us to the difficult decision to stop investing in the Lotus Edge platform. We will instead focus our resources and efforts on our Acurate neo2 aortic valve system, Sentinel cerebral embolic protection system and other high growth areas across our portfolio.”
