BTG plc (LSE: BTG), the global specialist healthcare company,
today announced the first patients diagnosed with Pulmonary
Embolism (PE) to be treated in Hong Kong using the newly available
EKOS® system. The EKOS® system includes an ultrasonic device that
uses acoustic pulses to quickly and safely dissolve blood clots and
restore blood flow in patients with PE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
and peripheral arterial occlusions (PAO).
Blood clots are tightly bound together in a fibrous mesh called
fibrin. Fibrin blocks the flow of thrombolytic drugs, requiring a
higher drug dose to be effective. The EKOS® system uses acoustic
pulses to unwind and thin fibrin to expose drug receptor sites,
allowing the drug to reach deeper into the clot, accelerating
absorption and helping to dissolve the clot faster and with less
thrombolytic.1,2
Dr. Luk Wing Hang, Consultant Radiologist at the Princess
Margaret Hospital, who performed the procedure on one of the
patients, said: “Prevalence of fatal PE was 0.21% (1964-74),
1.08% (1975-79), 1.83% (1980-84), 2.77% (1985-90), and 4.7% (1990-
94) and the trend has been found to be increasing year after year
with the percentage approaching western countries’ occurrence
rate.” In addition, Dr. Luk updated that the patient treated
with the EKOS® system was clinically stabilized with no
desaturation or shortness of breath and their blood pressure was
back to normal.
Later, in the same week, another case of submassive pulmonary
embolism was treated just eight miles away at the Prince of Wales
Hospital, where Interventional Cardiologist Prof. Bryan P. Yan was
the treating physician. “The EKOS® system enables much
lower and safer doses of thrombolytic drugs to be used which
significantly reduces the risk of major bleeding. The device is
currently the only US FDA cleared, minimally invasive endovascular
therapy for PE. Our patient’s condition was improved significantly
after 12 hours of ultrasound assisted thrombolysis with the
EKOS® system. His breathing and blood pressure were
improved and his grossly dilated right heart returned to nearly
normal size and he was successfully discharged home,” added
Prof. Bryan P. Yan.
James Glasgow, General Manager at BTG Asia, said: “I am pleased
to introduce our ultrasonic catheter device to the Hong Kong market
to improve the treatment of severe blood clots. BTG is committed to
delivering a better standard of care for patients who suffer from
PE, DVT and PAO, with improved outcomes and lower associated risks
through the development of minimally invasive therapies like the
EKOS® system.”
The EKOS® system is now commercially available to hospitals in
Hong Kong. The EKOS® system is distributed in Hong Kong by PPL
Medical Limited which has the rich experience of distributing
life-saving medical devices and equipment in Hong Kong and Macau
for over 35 years.
About Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a condition where one or more clots
break off or travel from existing venous clots in the legs or arms
and travel in the circulation, getting trapped in the lung, where
they block the ability of blood to get to some areas of the lungs
and receive oxygen. This may lead to a strain on the heart’s
ability to pump blood through the lungs which can then lead to
heart failure and/or cardiovascular collapse. PEs can be
immediately fatal, but if PE can be diagnosed and appropriate
therapy started, the mortality can be reduced from approximately 30
percent to less than 10 percent.7
About the EkoSonic® Endovascular System
The EKOS® system uses ultrasonic waves in combination with
clot-dissolving thrombolytic drugs to effectively dissolve clots
and restore healthy heart function and blood flow.
In clinical studies EKOS® therapy has been shown to speed
time-to-clot dissolution, increase clot removal and enhance
clinical improvement compared to either standard catheter-directed
drug therapy or thrombectomy.4,5 EKOS® therapy requires
significantly shorter treatment times and less thrombolytic
compared to standard catheter-directed drug therapy6, lowering the
risk of bleeding and other complications.2,3
Reference materials as the remarks in the press release:
1Chau KY, Yuen ST, Ng TH, Ng WF. An autopsy study of pulmonary
thromboembolism in Hong Kong Chinese. Pathology 1991;23:181-4. Chau
KY, Yuen ST, Wong MP. Clinicopathological pattern of pulmonary
thromboembolism in Chinese autopsy patients: comparison with
Caucasian series. Pathology 1997;29:263-6.
2Kucher, N., et al., “Randomized, Controlled Trial of
Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Acute
Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism.” Circulation, Vol. 129, No.
4, 2014, 479–486.
3Piazza G et al. A Prospective, Single-Arm, Multicenter Trial of
Ultrasound-Facilitated, Catheter-Directed, Low-Dose Fibrinolysis
for Acute Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism. The SEATTLE II
Study. J Amer Coll Cardiol: Cardiovasc Interventions 2015;
8(10):1382-1392.
4Lin, P., et al., “Comparison of Percutaneous
Ultrasound-Accelerated Thrombolysis versus Catheter-Directed
Thrombolysis in Patients with Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism.”
Vascular, Vol. 17, Suppl. 3, 2009, S137–S147.
5Lin, P., et al., “Catheter-Directed Thrombectomy and
Thrombolysis for Symptomatic Lower-Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis:
Review of Current Interventional Treatment Strategies.”
Perspectives in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, 2010,
22(3): 152–163.
6Parikh, S., et al., “Ultrasound-Accelerated Thrombolysis for
the Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis: Initial Clinical
Experience.” Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Vol.
19, Issue 4, April 2008, 521–528.
7Banovac, R et al., J Vasc Interv Radiol, 2010; 21:44-53.
About BTG
BTG is a global specialist healthcare company bringing to market
innovative products in specialist areas of medicine to better serve
doctors and their patients. We have a portfolio of Interventional
Medicine products to advance the treatment of cancer, severe
emphysema, severe blood clots and varicose veins, and Specialty
Pharmaceuticals that help patients overexposed to certain
medications or toxins. Inspired by patient and physician needs, BTG
is investing to expand its portfolio to address some of today’s
most complex healthcare challenges. To learn more about BTG, please
visit: btgplc.com.
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Communications Director+44 (0)20 7575 1595Mobile: +44 (0)7773
251 178orGreentarget CommunicationsChris Gale, Vice
President+1-646-695-2883Mobile: +1-203-570-4681
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