Vygon signs agreement with Carmat to develop artificial heart

Vygon, a group specialised in the design, manufacturing and marketing of medical solutions and devices, has announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Carmat, a medtech company that designs, manufactures and markets the Aeson artificial heart.

This partnership will see Vygon develop and manufacture a vascular graft for the outflow tract. The financial terms have not been disclosed.

Under the agreement, Vygon will adapt its existing polythese vascular graft to make it compatible with Carmat’s artificial heart. It will develop the two prosthetic outflow tracts connecting the Aeson heart to the patient’s pulmonary arteries and aorta.

Designed and developed by Carmat, the Aeson heart is the world’s first bioprosthetic artificial heart that is highly haemocompatible, pulsatile and self-regulated. It has the potential to save the lives of thousands of patients each year who find themselves on the waiting list for a heart transplant. 

“We are honoured that Carmat has chosen us to develop this new vascular graft – the first of its kind in the world,” said Ludovic Richard-Vitton, CEO at Vygon. “Carmat is a shining example of French medical innovation and has created a device with real life-saving potential. As fellow medtech specialists, we are proud to join forces with this company.”

“This partnership with Carmat will enable us to showcase one of the leading products from our cardiovascular & surgery catalog. It also confirms our reputation for outstanding industry expertise and problem-solving,” said Guillaume Puppinck, global director business plan and B2B deployment at Vygon. “We’re excited to use our expertise to adapt our graft to Carmat’s requirements and play our part in developing a treatment solution for patients waiting for heart transplants.”

Under the new agreement, Vygon also plans to develop a second bespoke device for Carmat by Q4, 2024.