United Therapeutics Corporation Announces the 500th Lung Transplant Utilizing its Centralized Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Service
United Therapeutics (UTHR) and its subsidiary Lung Bioengineering (LBE) announced their 500th lung transplant using centralized ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) service. Since 2014, they have evaluated over 800 donated lungs, with the milestone transplant performed at Mayo Clinic in Florida. EVLP technology helps evaluate donor lungs outside the body, increasing the availability of transplantable organs. Currently, only about 20% of donor lungs in the U.S. initially meet transplant standards, with approximately 1,400 people on the waiting list and 300 annual deaths while waiting. LBE operates facilities in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Jacksonville, Florida, serving 25 transplant centers across North America.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) e la sua controllata Lung Bioengineering (LBE) hanno annunciato il loro 500° trapianto di polmone utilizzando il servizio di perfusione polmonare ex vivo centralizzata (EVLP). Dal 2014, hanno valutato oltre 800 polmoni donati, con il trapianto milestone eseguito presso la Mayo Clinic in Florida. La tecnologia EVLP aiuta a valutare i polmoni dei donatori al di fuori del corpo, aumentando la disponibilità di organi trapiantabili. Attualmente, solo circa il 20% dei polmoni donati negli Stati Uniti soddisfa inizialmente gli standard per il trapianto, con circa 1.400 persone in lista d'attesa e 300 decessi annuali in attesa. LBE gestisce strutture a Silver Spring, Maryland, e Jacksonville, Florida, servendo 25 centri di trapianto in tutta Nord America.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) y su subsidiaria Lung Bioengineering (LBE) anunciaron su 500° trasplante de pulmón utilizando el servicio de perfusión pulmonar ex vivo centralizada (EVLP). Desde 2014, han evaluado más de 800 pulmones donados, siendo el trasplante emblemático realizado en la Mayo Clinic en Florida. La tecnología EVLP ayuda a evaluar los pulmones de los donantes fuera del cuerpo, aumentando la disponibilidad de órganos trasplantables. Actualmente, solo alrededor del 20% de los pulmones donados en los EE. UU. cumplen inicialmente con los estándares de trasplante, con aproximadamente 1,400 personas en la lista de espera y 300 muertes anuales mientras esperan. LBE opera instalaciones en Silver Spring, Maryland, y Jacksonville, Florida, sirviendo a 25 centros de trasplante en toda América del Norte.
유나이티드 테라퓨틱스 (UTHR)와 그 자회사인 폐 생체공학 (LBE)은 중앙 집중식 체외 폐 관류 (EVLP) 서비스를 사용하여 500번째 폐 이식 수술을 발표했습니다. 2014년 이후, 그들은 800개 이상의 기증된 폐를 평가했으며, 이 이식 수술은 플로리다의 메이요 클리닉에서 시행되었습니다. EVLP 기술은 몸 밖에서 기증된 폐를 평가하는 데 도움을 주어 이식 가능한 장기의 가용성을 높입니다. 현재, 미국에서 기증된 폐의 약 20%만이 처음에 이식 기준을 충족하며, 대기자 명단에는 약 1,400명이 있으며, 이들 중 매년 300명이 기다리는 동안 사망합니다. LBE는 메릴랜드주 실버 스프링과 플로리다주 잭슨빌에서 시설을 운영하며 북미 전역의 25개 이식 센터에 서비스를 제공합니다.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) et sa filiale Lung Bioengineering (LBE) ont annoncé leur 500ème transplantation pulmonaire utilisant le service de perfusion pulmonaire ex vivo centralisée (EVLP). Depuis 2014, ils ont évalué plus de 800 poumons donnés, la transplantation jalon ayant été réalisée à la Mayo Clinic en Floride. La technologie EVLP aide à évaluer les poumons des donneurs en dehors du corps, augmentant la disponibilité des organes transplantables. Actuellement, seulement environ 20 % des poumons donnés aux États-Unis répondent initialement aux normes de transplantation, avec environ 1 400 personnes sur la liste d'attente et 300 décès annuels en attendant. LBE gère des installations à Silver Spring, Maryland, et Jacksonville, Floride, desservant 25 centres de transplantation à travers l'Amérique du Nord.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) und ihre Tochtergesellschaft Lung Bioengineering (LBE) haben ihre 500. Lungentransplantation mit dem zentralisierten ex vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) Service angekündigt. Seit 2014 haben sie über 800 gespendete Lungen bewertet, wobei die Meilenstein-Transplantation an der Mayo Clinic in Florida durchgeführt wurde. Die EVLP-Technologie hilft dabei, die Lungen von Spendern außerhalb des Körpers zu bewerten, was die Verfügbarkeit transplantierbarer Organe erhöht. Derzeit erfüllen nur etwa 20 % der gespendeten Lungen in den USA zunächst die Transplantationsstandards, und es gibt etwa 1.400 Menschen auf der Warteliste sowie 300 jährliche Todesfälle während der Wartezeit. LBE betreibt Einrichtungen in Silver Spring, Maryland und Jacksonville, Florida und bedient 25 Transplantationszentren in ganz Nordamerika.
- Successfully completed 500 lung transplants from 800 evaluated lungs since 2014
- Operating in 25 transplant centers across North America
- Planning expansion with additional EVLP centers in North America
- Technology addresses critical organ shortage with only 20% of donor lungs initially meeting transplant standards
- None.
Insights
The milestone of 500 lung transplants through centralized EVLP represents a significant advancement in addressing organ shortage. The technology has demonstrated impressive efficiency, evaluating over 800 donated lungs since 2014, with a conversion rate exceeding
The impact is substantial considering only
United Therapeutics' planned expansion of EVLP centers and integration with their broader organ alternatives platform, including xenotransplantation and bioengineering initiatives, positions them as a leader in addressing the organ shortage crisis. The recent initiation of miroliverELAP™ clinical trials and planned UKidney™ xenokidney studies in 2025 further strengthens their market position.
Unique centralized service helps increase the supply of lungs for transplant, addressing a critical unmet need
The 500th transplant was completed in
“At United Therapeutics, our founding purpose has always been to save and improve lives through innovative technologies like those that expand the availability of transplantable organs and organ alternatives,” said Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of United Therapeutics. “We are proud of the groundbreaking accomplishments at LBE, and this important milestone serves as a testament to directly fulfilling our public benefit purpose by providing life-changing opportunities for those in need. This critical effort would not be possible without the tireless dedication of the LBE staff, the skilled physicians and hospital teams with whom we partner, and the patients and families we serve. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of so many, and we are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us.”
Lungs are among the most fragile and difficult organs to transplant. They are susceptible to injuries and infections, with only about 20 percent of donor lungs in the
EVLP is a technique used to evaluate donor lungs outside of the human body. It has emerged as an important tool for transplant physicians to increase the number of lungs available for transplant. EVLP involves flushing, ventilating, and heating donor lungs to normal body temperatures while gathering data on the lungs for real-time transmission for review by transplant physicians and other transplant program team members. For example, when lungs do not meet standard direct-to-transplant criteria, they are often discarded. With the help of EVLP, lungs can be monitored and clinically assessed to help transplant centers determine transplant suitability.
In each case, LBE clinical specialists review donor information with transplant centers and organ procurement organizations to determine whether the proposed organ is suitable for EVLP. LBE clinical specialists then use an FDA-approved EVLP device, or alternatively as part of a clinical trial, an EVLP device under development by LBE called the Centralized Lung Evaluation System (CLES), to gather data. LBE transmits EVLP data and communicates with transplant practitioners in real time using its proprietary OrganVue™ software.
LBE’s staff of more than 30 professionals provide EVLP services at facilities located in
Added Dr. Rothblatt: “As we look ahead at the unmet need, we are committed to building on the success of our centers of excellence in
LBE’s centralized EVLP service is part of the broader xeno and organ alternative development platform at United Therapeutics. This platform consists of four key technologies – xenotransplantation, bio-artificial organ alternatives, regenerative medicine, and 3D bioprinting – providing manufactured alternatives for four human organs – heart, kidney, liver, and lung. United Therapeutics’ Miromatrix subsidiary recently initiated a phase 1 study of miroliverELAP™, the first bioengineered organ alternative to enter human clinical studies. United Therapeutics plans to initiate the first clinical study of the UKidney™ xenokidney in 2025, contingent on satisfactory FDA review of an investigational new drug application and concurrent investigational new animal drug application.
About Lung Bioengineering
Lung Bioengineering Inc. (LBE) owns and operates the first and only full-service ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) centers in
United Therapeutics: Enabling Inspiration
At United Therapeutics, our vision and mission are one. We use our enthusiasm, creativity, and persistence to innovate for the unmet medical needs of our patients and to benefit our other stakeholders. We are bold and unconventional. We have fun, we do good. We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation (PBC). Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through (a) the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and (b) technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.
You can learn more about what it means to be a PBC here: unither.com/pbc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included in this press release that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, our goals for LBE’s integrated EVLP service to reduce resource burdens from donation to transplant and increase organ utilization; our plans to open additional centralized EVLP centers in
ORGANVUE, MIROLIVERELAP, and UKIDNEY are trademarks of United Therapeutics Corporation and its subsidiaries.
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Source: United Therapeutics Corporation
FAQ
How many lung transplants has United Therapeutics (UTHR) completed using EVLP technology?
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What percentage of donor lungs initially meet transplant standards according to UTHR?
