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NMT MEDICAL GETS FDA APPROVAL FOR CHANGES IN PFO/STROKE TRIAL.


NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) An analog cellular phone system deployed in more than 40 countries in Europe. Launched in the Scandinavian countries in 1979, NMT was the first analog cellphone system. Both 450 MHz and 900 MHz versions are available. See cellular generations.  Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ
 in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on
:NMTI NMTI Northwest Medical Teams International (Tigard, OR, USA)
NMTI Node Management Terminal Interface
), Boston, an advanced medical technology company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary implant technologies that allow interventional cardiologists to treat structural heart disease through minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures, has received conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA FDA
abbr.
Food and Drug Administration


FDA,
n.pr See Food and Drug Administration.

FDA,
n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration.
) to its revised study hypothesis and statistical plan in the CLOSURE I patent foramen ovale patent foramen ovale PFO Cardiology An opening between the left and right atria which allows blood to bypass the lungs in utero; the FO normally closes shortly after birth, but remains open in up to 20%; a PFO is, in absence of other cardiac defects, is of no consequence  (PFO)/stroke and transient ischemic attack Transient Ischemic Attack Definition

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is often described as a mini-stroke. Unlike a stroke, however, the symptoms can disappear within a few minutes.
 (TIA (1) (Telecommunications Industry Association, Arlington, VA, www.tiaonline.org) A membership organization founded in 1988 that sets telecommunications standards worldwide. It was originally an EIA working group that was spun off and merged with the U.S. ) trial in the U.S. As part of the revised plan, the company plans to enroll approximately 800 patients. The original CLOSURE I statistical plan, approved by the FDA five years ago, required an enrollment of 1,600 patients.

On March 2, 2007, NMT participated in a public and private FDA advisory panel meeting to discuss the current status of the ongoing PFO/stroke trials being sponsored by NMT and other companies. At the close of the meeting, both the FDA and advisory panel concurred that only randomized ran·dom·ize  
tr.v. ran·dom·ized, ran·dom·iz·ing, ran·dom·iz·es
To make random in arrangement, especially in order to control the variables in an experiment.
, controlled trials would provide the necessary data to be considered for premarket approval (PMA PMA (papillary-marginal-attached),
n a system of epidemiologic scoring of periodontal disease devised by Schour and Massler in which the symbols denote the areas involved in gingival inflammation.

PMA Progressive muscular atrophy
) for devices intended for transcatheter PFO closure in the stroke and TIA indication. During a private session, NMT provided the FDA and advisory panel with a revised study hypothesis and statistical plan to complete the CLOSURE I study as a randomized controlled trial A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a scientific procedure most commonly used in testing medicines or medical procedures. RCTs are considered the most reliable form of scientific evidence because it eliminates all forms of spurious causality. .

"The FDA's acceptance of our revised plan to complete enrollment in the CLOSURE I study represents an important milestone for NMT and the medical community," said President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board.  John E. Ahern. "The revision is based on the recommendations made at the recently held meeting. As a result of this decision, we believe that we are now much closer to completing enrollment in CLOSURE I and thereby understanding the PFO/stroke and TIA connection and the possibility that treatment with a closure device may reduce the frequency of recurrent events. The stroke and TIA indications, which have a potential market of 250,000 U.S. patients annually, have always been a major focus for the company. As the leader in the PFO closure space, we are committed to being the first company to complete a randomized controlled trial and to submit a PMA for these indications. I want to acknowledge the tremendous effort put forth by our investigators, our internal team, the clinical community and the FDA in order to develop an appropriate revised plan that accelerates the completion date for patient enrollment in the CLOSURE I study."

Anthony Furlan, M.D., Associate Director Cerebrovascular cer·e·bro·vas·cu·lar
adj.
Relating to the blood supply to the brain, particularly with reference to pathological changes.



cerebrovascular

pertaining to the blood vessels of the cerebrum or brain.
 Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, and the Principal Investigator of CLOSURE I, said, "It is very important to obtain an answer to the stroke/PFO connection based upon a randomized controlled clinical trial controlled clinical trial,
n a research strategy that calls for two samples: an experimental sample of patients receiving a pharmaceutical, and a second sample of control patients receiving a placebo.
. The Executive Committee and investigators are excited about the recent FDA acceptance of a revised statistical plan and the prospects for completing this important study. The answers from CLOSURE I will help determine the best treatment for patients presenting with cryptogenic cryptogenic /cryp·to·gen·ic/ (krip?to-jen´ik) of obscure or doubtful origin.

cryp·to·gen·ic
adj.
Of obscure or unknown origin. Used of diseases.
 stroke and TIA that also have a right to left shunt through a PFO."

Ahern concluded, "To date, more than 650 patients have been randomized in CLOSURE I. We are not aware of any other randomized stroke and TIA studies as far along or with as much accumulated clinical information. Based on the revised statistical plan, we currently expect to complete enrollment by year end. Follow-up with the patients will continue to be over a two-year period."

A PFO is a common heart defect that may be a potential risk factor for stroke, migraine, TIA or other brain attacks in some patients. The PFO allows venous blood, unfiltered and unmanaged by the lungs, to enter the arterial blood circulation. CLOSURE I is NMT's pivotal clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the STARFlex(R) technology in preventing recurrent stroke and/or TIA due to a presumed, paradoxical embolism through a PFO.

About NMT Medical, Inc.

NMT Medical is an advanced medical technology company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary implant technologies that allow interventional cardiologists to treat structural heart disease through minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures. NMT Medical is currently investigating the potential connection between a common heart defect that allows a right to left shunt or flow of blood through a defect like a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and brain attacks such as migraine headaches, embolic stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). A common right to left shunt can allow venous blood, unfiltered and unmanaged by the lungs, to enter the arterial circulation of the brain, possibly triggering a cerebral event or brain attack. More than 23,000 PFOs have been treated globally with NMT's minimally invasive, catheter-based implant technology.

The prevalence of migraines in the United States is about 10%. Of the 28 million migraine sufferers in America, those who experience aura and have a PFO may represent a three million patient subset. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability in adults. Each year, 750,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke and an additional 500,000 Americans experience a TIA.

For more information about NMT Medical, visit http://www.nmtmedical.com or call 617/737-0930.
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Publication:Biotech Equipment Update
Date:Jun 1, 2007
Words:854
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