Multi MERCI(R) Trial Demonstrates Better Outcomes For Patients Suffering Ischemic Stroke

Main Category: Stroke
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 13 Feb 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Results of the Multi MERCI trial were reported at the International Stroke Conference in San Francisco. In the Multi MERCI trial, more than two thirds of ischemic stroke patients treated had restoration of blood flow, correlating with better outcomes. The trial was sponsored by Concentric Medical, the only company offering devices cleared by FDA for clot removal in ischemic stroke patients.

"We are extremely grateful to all the physicians and staff at participating centers that made this trial a success", said Gary Curtis, President and CEO of Concentric Medical. "The original MERCI trial, and now the Multi MERCI trial, are two of the most successful acute ischemic stroke device trials, resulting in FDA clearances and commercial availability of new options for patients."

"Results of this trial further underscore the importance of restoring blood flow in patients suffering an ischemic stroke", said Wade Smith, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator and Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco. "The overall revascularization rate of 68.3% is the highest among any major acute ischemic stroke trial."

The Multi MERCI trial utilized the Merci(R) Retrieval System, a "corkscrew-type" device that is delivered into the brain using standard catheterization techniques. The Merci Retriever is designed to restore blood flow by engaging, capturing and removing blood clots which cause ischemic stroke.

Multi MERCI was a multi-center, prospective trial including 164 patients treated at 15 hospitals in the United States and Canada. All patients had moderate-to-severe, large vessel strokes. When looking at the natural history, the prognosis for many of these stroke patients is poor, with the rate of death ranging from 35 to 90%. The trial included patients who were ineligible for or had failed treatment with a clot-dissolving drug called t-PA. Many of these large vessel strokes have a large clot burden which may make it difficult for clot-dissolving drugs to be effective. Treatment was initiated within eight hours of stroke symptom onset, which is beyond the three-hour treatment window for intravenous clot-dissolving drugs.

Stroke Facts

Stroke is the number one leading cause of disability and is the third leading cause of death worldwide. It is estimated that there are 750,000 strokes in the United States each year, of which 85 percent are ischemic. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a blood clot, which can impair brain function and cause severe disability or death.

About Concentric Medical

Located in Mountain View, California, and founded in 1999, Concentric Medical is dedicated to "Putting STROKE in Reverse". The company manufacturers and markets the Merci Retrieval Systems, the only interventional devices cleared by the FDA for clot retrieval in acute ischemic stroke. Concentric Medical has a full pipeline of new products to continue to advance the treatment options for ischemic stroke patients. The Merci Retrieval System is available in over 225 centers in North America and in leading stroke centers around the world. Concentric Medical estimates that over 4,500 patients have been treated with the device. More information about Concentric Medical and its products can be found at http://www.concentric-medical.com.

Concentric, Merci and MERCI are trademarks/registered trademarks of Concentric Medical.

Concentric Medical
http://www.concentric-medical.com

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