Massachusetts-based cardiac assist devices maker Abiomed (ABMD) has reportedly launched a new training program which will facilitate heart recovery for emergent cardiac care patients. The collaborative education program will enable healthcare institutions to provide advanced training in hemodynamic support and complex patient management to achieve this objective. 
 
Abiomed is currently in the process of selecting healthcare institutions across the U.S. to participate in its specialized training program. The company’s goal is to establish these select institutions as training centers to educate hospitals about the value of treating patients with emergent hemodynamic support and the role of its Impella cardiac pumps in improving heart muscle recovery. The first healthcare institute to join the collaboration program is Pennsylvania-based leading hospital and healthcare system PinnacleHealth.
 
Abiomed recently reported updated clinical data from its USpella registry (a U.S. multicenter observational registry of Impella 2.5 patients).at the 2010 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific meet in Washington, DC.
 
The updated registry, which incorporated data from 352 patients, showed that patients treated with Impella 2.5 in the prophylactic (or preventive) setting achieved significant (17%) improvement in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), a measure of the amount of blood being pumped out of the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber) with each beat. Moreover, the results showed a low (3.9%) mortality rate.
 
Patients on an emergent Impella support demonstrated a 19% improvement in LVEF at discharge along with a significant (59%) reduction in mortality. Moreover, 90% of the survivors recovered their native cardiac function and were discharged with their own hearts. The results further validated the effectiveness and viability of Impella 2.5.
 
Abiomed enjoys strong demand for its Impella cardiac pumps. Higher Impella sales continue to fuel double-digit revenue growth for the company. Abiomed is pursuing a number of strategies to boost Impella utilization. However, the company does not expect to make any profit in fiscal 2011, in part, due to the hefty expenses associated with Impella. We are currently Neutral on Abiomed. 
 
 
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