Intact Vascular has announced that positive single centre twenty-four month results from its TOBA (Tack optimised balloon angioplasty) clinical study were presented at VEITHsymposium 2017 by Christian Wissgott, assistant director, Westküstenklinikum Heide in Heide, Germany.
The multicentre TOBA study enrolled 138 patients with femoropopliteal peripheral arterial disease in Europe. All participants underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty and repair of any dissections (or tears) resulting from the procedure using the Tack endovascular system. There is currently a below-the-knee investigational device exemption study ongoing with the system in the USA.
The Tack implant is a first-of-its kind device for precision dissection repair following balloon angioplasty, a press release from the company states. The Tack endovascular system is designed to help maintain vessel integrity and maximise blood flow to promote healing, improve outcomes and save limbs. The system leaves a minimal amount of metal in the artery, reduces mechanical stress on the arterial wall and preserves future treatment options. Unrepaired dissections—which are frequent following balloon angioplasty procedures—increase the probability of acute arterial occlusion and may continue narrowing the artery, which leads to lower long-term patency rates.
The 24-month Kaplan-Meier patency results were unchanged from the favourable twelve-month rate of 87.5%. “The Tack implant offers a new paradigm for focal dissection repair in the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries,” Wissgott said. “Zero reduction in vessel patency over twelve months appears to be attributable to the Tack design, which leaves 70–80% less metal behind when compared to traditional stents. In addition, the Tack’s lower chronic outward force minimises vessel inflammation and reduces vessel trauma that can contribute to restenosis.”
Ongoing studies
Intact Vascular is sponsoring three clinical trials to evaluate its Tack endovascular system: TOBA II; TOBA II BTK and TOBA III. TOBA II is investigating the combination of the Tack device with both plain and drug-coated balloon angioplasty in the arteries above the knee, and completed enrolment in February 2017. TOBA II BTK is investigating the combination of the Tack device with plain balloon angioplasty in the arteries below the knee and is actively enrolling patients. TOBA III is currently underway in Europe and is investigating the combination of the Tack device with drug-coated balloon angioplasty; enrolment is nearly complete.
