HOUSTON, TX (February 18, 2014) - Houston-based Procyrion, Inc. has been selected to present and discuss future plans for Aortix™, the first catheter-deployed circulatory assist device intended for long-term use in the treatment of chronic heart failure, at the 2014 Texas life Science Forum.
Procyrion joins more than 50 other innovative life science technology entrepreneurs in the region as they present to potential investors and strategic partners at the annual conference to be held February 20 at Houston’s BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC).
The Aortix™ device, conceived by Dr. Reynolds M. Delgado III, Medical Director of Mechanical Support at the Texas Heart Institute, is a percutaneous intra-aortic continuous flow pump delivered by a catheter inserted through the femoral artery and held in place using novel self-expanding anchors. The small size and unique design of the device enable a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that takes about ten minutes to complete.
“Medical device innovation faces continued pressure not only to improve patient quality of life, but also to reduce the cost of care, especially with respect to hospitalization and re-hospitalization costs. Presenting our successes and plans for Aortix™ at the Texas Life Science Forum will show potential investors that Procyrion is in a unique position to potentially do both,” says Procyrion President and CEO Benjamin Hertzog.
More than 500 attendees are expected at the Texas Life Science Forum to hear from industry luminaries, early-stage life science venture capitalists from across the U.S. and major pharma/medtech companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Pfizer.
Procyrion’s team of life science entrepreneurs, cardiologists and circulatory support experts have also been accepted to present Aortix at the American College of Cardiology’s 64th Annual Scientific Session & Expo in Washington D.C. March 29 - 31, 2014 and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation’s 34th Annual Meeting & Scientific Session in San Diego April 10 – 13, 2014.
ABOUT PROCYRION
Houston-based medical device firm Procyrion, Inc. is developing the first catheter-deployed, intra-aortic pump for ambulatory use. The device is designed to rest and heal the heart by reducing afterload while simultaneously improving blood flow to vital organs. This groundbreaking cardiology tool, conceived by cardiologist Dr. Reynolds M. Delgado, III, medical director of Mechanical Support Devices in Heart Failure at the Texas Heart Institute, is expected to provide a minimally invasive treatment option for millions of chronic heart failure patients. For more information, explore our website or call 713.579.9227.
ABOUT TEXAS LIFE SCIENCE FORUM
The Texas Life Science Forum is designed to connect entrepreneurs with potential investors and strategic partners, provide an educational vehicle for the life science community and to showcase the vibrancy of the existing life science community in Texas. The annual event is a joint effort between BioHouston and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, along with the Houston Area Translational Research Consortium (HATRC) and the Texas Healthcare and BioScience Institute (THBI). www.txlifescienceforum.org
FOR INFORMATION:
Anna Drake
Penman PR
713.510.0500
anna@penmanpr.com