Varian Receives FDA "Breakthrough Device Designation" for its Cardiac Radioablation (CRA) System for Treatment of Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company Breakthrough Device Designation for its cardiac radioablation (CRA) system, currently in development as a noninvasive therapy for select patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Ventricular tachycardia is a fast, abnormal heart rate and may lead to sudden cardiac arrest if not treated successfully. Patients with VT may be treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), antiarrhythmic medications, or an invasive catheter ablation procedure. Often, these interventions are insufficient in controlling VT. ^1,2,3,4

Varian's CRA system was designated a Breakthrough Device by the FDA because of its potential to offer a more effective treatment for select patients with refractory VT. Unlike conventional catheter ablation for VT, the Varian CRA system is being developed to enable noninvasive targeting and delivery of ablative energy across the full thickness of the myocardium. If this approach is supported by planned clinical studies it may lead to better outcomes for patients. As a noninvasive therapy, CRA procedures may prove safer and require less time than current surgical modalities.

"As a heart rhythm specialist who routinely treats individuals with VT, I am thrilled to see the FDA recognize Varian's cardiac radioablation system as a breakthrough technology. This important development brings us one step closer to offering this promising therapy to patients with VT who have failed all other therapeutic options," said Phillip Cuculich, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

The FDA Breakthrough Device Program is intended to provide patients with more timely access to medical devices that have the potential to provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. As part of the program, the FDA expedites the traditional review and assessment process to help accelerate the development, assessment, and review of the device.

"Early positive clinical results suggest that non-invasive cardiac radioablation could offer new hope for patients with refractory VT," said Kolleen Kennedy, President, Proton Solutions and Growth Office, Varian. "We look forward to developing this important new technology and working closely with the FDA to develop the appropriate clinical program for market approval."

¹Tang, PT, Shenasa M, Boyle NG. Ventricular Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death.
Card Electrophysiol Clin, 2017 Dec; 9(4):693-708. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2017.08.004.

² Sapp JL, Wells GA, Parkash R, Stevenson WG, Blier L, Sarrazin JF, et al. Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation versus Escalation of Antiarrhythmic Drugs. N Engl J Med [Internet]. 2016/05/06. 2016;375(2):111–21.

³Tokuda M, Kojodjojo P, Tung S, Tedrow UB, Nof E, Inada K, et al. Acute failure of catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia due to structural heart disease: causes and significance. J Am Hear Assoc [Internet]. 2013/06/04. 2013;2(3):e000072.

⁴Stevenson WG, Wilber DJ, Natale A, Jackman WM, Marchlinski FE, Talbert T, et al. Irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation guided by electroanatomic mapping for recurrent ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction: the multicenter thermocool ventricular tachycardia ablation trial. Circulation [Internet]. 2008/12/10. 2008;118(25):2773–82.

About Varian
At Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year. With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to care. Our 11,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter.

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