Sunshine Heart Receives FDA Approval for Interim Analysis of US Pivotal Trial

Sunshine Heart Receives FDA Approval for Interim Analysis of U.S. Pivotal Trial of C-Pulse® Heart Assist System

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.,  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunshine Heart, Inc. (Nasdaq:SSH) today announced it has received unconditional approval from the FDA to conduct an interim analysis of COUNTER HF, the Company’s U.S. pivotal study. The COUNTER HF study is a prospective, randomized, multi-center, controlled study that evaluates the safety and efficacy of the C-Pulse system for the treatment of NYHA Class III and ambulatory Class IV heart failure. Integral to the COUNTER HF study is the assessment of C-Pulse’s unique balloon counterpulsation treatment designed to improve heart function and reduce re-hospitalizations due to worsening heart failure.

“Today’s announcement is a significant achievement for the company as it offers the potential to dramatically reduce the development timeline for this important solution for heart failure. The FDA decision to approve this interim analysis is not only unconditional but also arrives earlier than the originally anticipated timeframe of end Q1 2015. We are grateful for the FDA’s rapid response to our submission and look forward to working with the Agency through the balance of the COUNTER HF study and on the development of the next generation, fully implantable C-Pulse system,” commented Dave Rosa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunshine Heart.

A key potential benefit of conducting the analysis is the prospect of reducing the overall duration of the study should COUNTER HF meet the higher statistical threshold of the interim analysis. The study is a prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial. It is being conducted by heart failure and cardiac surgeon specialists in the United States. It is expected to randomize 388 patients in up to 40 clinical sites. The purpose of the study is to determine whether the C-Pulse System is a safe and effective treatment for heart failure patients who meet the following key study qualifications:

  • NYHA Class III or early Class IV heart failure*;
  • Ejection fraction ≤ 35% (measure of how well the heart pumps blood);
  • Taking appropriate heart failure medications as prescribed by doctor; and
  • Have been evaluated for cardiac resynchronization therapy with or without defibrillation (CRT, CRT-D) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy.

*New York Heart Class (NYHA) Class III or early Class IV: Very limited in daily activities or unable to do activities without discomfort. Become tired, short of breath, and have heart palpitations during physical activity. Note: Other qualifications apply and study doctors will determine who is eligible for the study.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the trial and if they might qualify for the study can visitwww.HFClinicalStudy.com or call 1-888-978-8391.

About the C-Pulse® Heart Assist System

The C-Pulse Heart Assist System, or C-Pulse System, an investigational device in the United States, Canada and countries that do not recognize the CE mark approval, utilizes the scientific principles of intra-aortic balloon counter-pulsation applied in an extra-aortic approach to assist the left ventricle by reducing the workload required to pump blood throughout the body, while increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries. Combined, these potential benefits may help sustain the patient’s current condition or, in some cases, reverse the heart failure process, thereby potentially preventing the need for later-stage heart failure devices, such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), artificial hearts or transplants. It may also provide relief from the symptoms of Class III and ambulatory Class IV heart failure and improve quality of life and cardiac function. Based on the results from our feasibility study, we also believe that some patients treated with our C-Pulse System may be able to stop using the device due to sustained improvement in their conditions as a result of the therapy.

Caution: Investigational device, limited by Federal (or United States) Law to Investigational use.