“The REDUCE data is groundbreaking for patients who have suffered a cryptogenic stroke attributed to a PFO,” said Scott Kasner, MD, Neurologist in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and U.S. Neurology National Principal Investigator for the REDUCE Study. “Until now, there has never been a study of a PFO closure device that showed statistically significant reduction in stroke recurrence in the primary intent-to-treat analysis. Other PFO closure device trials had to rely on secondary analysis, including following patients for up to a decade, before achieving statistical significance. Also of note is the level of safety the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder demonstrated, with no significant difference shown in the rate of serious adverse events between patients implanted with the device and those in the control arm. This trial demonstrates noteworthy verification that PFO closure with the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is a valuable procedure to reduce recurrent stroke and brain infarct when utilized in an appropriate patient population.”

The controlled, open-label REDUCE study assessed the efficacy and safety of PFO closure using Gore Septal Occluder Devices in 664 randomized subjects, ages 18 to 59 with a history of cryptogenic stroke, across 63 investigational sites in seven countries. The trial met its primary endpoint by showing a statistically significant, 76.6 percent (p = 0.001), reduction in recurrent ischemic stroke in patients that underwent PFO closure in conjunction with antiplatelet therapy versus those who underwent antiplatelet therapy alone after an average of 3.4 years follow-up.

In addition to the primary endpoint of reduction of recurrent stroke, the study also met its co-primary endpoint of reduction of new brain infarct, inclusive of silent brain infarct (SBI), through PFO closure. An increased risk of clinical stroke, dementia, and cognitive dysfunction has been associated with SBI. This marks the first time a study assessed the relationship between PFO closure and reduction of new brain infarct. Patients underwent baseline and two-year follow-up MRI scans to determine if new brain infarct occurred. New brain infarct was present in 5.7 percent of test arm subjects and 11.3 percent of control arm subjects, yielding a 49.6 percent (p = 0.024) relative risk reduction for PFO closure on new brain infarct.

The data showed no difference in the subject-based rate of serious adverse events between test and control groups. Device- and procedure-related serious adverse events occurred in 1.4 and 2.5 percent, respectively, of test patients. Patients experienced low rates of bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, with no significant difference between test and control groups.  There was a significantly higher rate of serious atrial fibrillation in the test group (2.3 percent versus 0.4 percent) but the majority of atrial fibrillation was peri-procedural (80 percent had onset within 30 days of the closure procedure) and had rapid resolution (70 percent with resolution within two days of onset).

In the U.S., stroke is the leading cause of long-term severe disability and the fourth leading cause of death. Roughly 25 percent of first-time strokes are cryptogenic, or due to unknown cause. Studies have shown that PFO can be found in up to 40 to 50 percent of patients who have had a cryptogenic stroke.

Most people with a PFO — a hole occurring in the upper wall between the left and right atria of the heart — do not experience any issues when blood flows from one atrium to the other; however, serious problems such as stroke can arise if a blood clot passes from the right to left atria through a PFO and then to the brain. The data from the REDUCE Study suggest the risk of recurrent stroke can be dramatically reduced when the PFO is closed using Gore Septal Occluder Devices.

“It is of the utmost importance to us to be transparent and share clinical data as quickly as possible,” said Jake Goble, PhD, Gore Structural Heart Pipeline Leader. “We completed our two-year primary endpoint follow-up with patients in March and have worked diligently to release these important data to the public. Closure of PFO to reduce recurrent strokes and brain infarcts is not widely practiced today, mainly due to a lack of sufficient data. We’re excited by the very positive results from our REDUCE study. We are looking forward to our next steps of taking the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder through the submission process to make this viable treatment option for recurrent cryptogenic stroke available to physicians and their patients.”

The GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is inserted through a catheter that is placed in a leg vein and advanced to the heart. In the U.S., the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is currently approved for closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs), and is under investigation for the closure of PFOs. It is designed with two independent conformable discs that span and cover the anatomy. The minimal wire frame of the device provides optimal apposition to the anatomy and is covered in Gore’s proprietary, thromboresistant ePTFE material, allowing tissue ingrowth for short-and long-term performance.

MEDICAL PRODUCTS DIVISION

Gore Medical Products Division engineers devices that treat a range of cardiovascular and other health conditions. With more than 40 million medical devices implanted over the course of more than 40 years, Gore builds on its legacy of improving patient outcomes through research, education and quality initiatives. Product performance, ease of use and quality of service provide sustainable cost savings for physicians, hospitals and insurers. Gore is joined in service with clinicians and through this collaboration we are improving lives. 

ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs approximately 10,000 Associates and generates annual revenues that exceed $3 billion. www.gore.com