Will Lead Commercialization of CARILLON® Mitral Contour System® Throughout Europe
(KIRKLAND, WA), October 13, 2011—Cardiac Dimensions®, Inc. today announced
that it had named sales and marketing executive Omari V. Bouknight its Vice
President of Sales and Marketing, effective Oct. 12. He reports directly to
President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Stewart.
Bouknight has
primary responsibility for the commercialization of the CARILLON® Mitral Contour System® throughout Europe. The CARILLON system, which recently
received CE Mark approval, is a novel therapy for treating heart failure
patients suffering from functional mitral regurgitation (FMR).
Bouknight has spent the past eight years working in sales, marketing and
business development for global medical device companies specializing in
cardiac products. Most recently, Bouknight served as Business Unit Director,
Chronic Circulatory Support for Pleasanton, CA-based Thoratec Corporation, a
leading developer and manufacturer of cardiac assist devices for the
treatment of advanced heart failure. As Business Unit Director he most
notably led successful commercialization efforts for the HeartMate II® Left
Ventricular Assist System in Europe and the United States.
“We are
excited to add a senior executive with Omari’s depth of experience to our
senior management team,” Stewart said. “His background and expertise in
global sales and marketing, particularly in Europe, will allow him to make
immediate contributions to the Cardiac Dimensions organization. More
specifically, his experiences in commercializing innovative products that
address heart failure translate directly to our ongoing efforts to
commercialize the CARILLON system. Omari represents a strong addition to an
already high-caliber senior management team, which is well positioned to
achieve our clinical and commercial milestones.”
Prior to Thoratec,
from 2003 to 2005, Bouknight worked for Guidant Corporation’s sales and
marketing organizations. From 1999-2002, he served as a consultant to
numerous healthcare organizations as part of Deloitte Consulting.
Bouknight has bachelor’s degrees in supply chain operations, international
relations and German from Michigan State University. He also earned an MBA
from Harvard Business School.
About CARILLON® Mitral Contour System®
Cardiac Dimensions’ CARILLON Mitral Contour System
combines a proprietary, implantable device with a percutaneous catheter
delivery system. The implantable device consists of a proximal anchor and a
distal anchor connected by a shaping ribbon. Utilizing the heart’s natural
structures, the device is intended to reduce mitral annulus dilatation upon
deployment, thereby significantly reducing functional mitral regurgitation
(FMR). Rapidly delivered via the venous vasculature, CARILLON has the
potential to treat most heart failure patients in a minimally invasive
fashion. Early clinical data suggest that usage is associated with
significant reduction in FMR, and significant improvement in functional
capacity and quality of life.
About Functional Mitral
Regurgitation
More than 20 million people worldwide have heart
failure, most of whom also suffer from functional mitral regurgitation
(FMR). FMR typically results from the dilation of the left ventricle, which
is the main pumping chamber in the heart. As the left ventricle increases in
size, the mitral valve also expands. This dimensional increase leads to
mitral regurgitation, which significantly reduces the amount of blood flow
out of the left ventricle and on to the body and its organs. FMR has been
associated with high rates of mortality, reduced functional capacity, poor
quality of life and an increase in patient hospitalizations. Current
mainstream therapies to address FMR are limited. A majority of patients
become refractory to medical therapy over time and traditional surgical
intervention is associated with high rates of operative morbidity and
mortality.
About Cardiac Dimensions®, Inc.
Cardiac Dimensions is a leader in the development of innovative, minimally
invasive treatment modalities to address heart failure and related
cardiovascular conditions. The company’s initial technology platform, the
CARILLON® Mitral Contour System® has been designed to address functional
mitral regurgitation, utilizing a novel percutaneous approach. Cardiac
Dimensions is based in Kirkland, Washington. For more information, visit the
company’s web site: http://www.cardiacdimensions.com.
Cardiac
Dimensions and CARILLON are registered trademarks of Cardiac Dimensions,
Inc., and Mitral Contour System is a trademark of Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.
For further
information contact:
Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.
David Reuter
(425) 605-5960
Allen & Caron, Inc.
Len Hall
(949)
474-4300