Bioresorbable Stent Company, Arterial Remodeling Technologies (''ART''), Appoints Machiel Van Der Leest as Chief Executive Officer
"The timing of Machiel's appointment as CEO signals a major
turning point in the evolution of ART--from an R&D mindset to a
product-development mandate." - Eric Viaud, Chairman, Arterial
Remodeling Technologies
PARIS--(Business Wire)--
Arterial Remodeling Technologies ("ART") announced today that it
has appointed Machiel Van Der Leest as its Chief Executive Officer,
effective immediately. Most recently, Van Der Leest was ART's Chief
Operating Officer since March 2008. Prior to joining ART, he was
Director of R&D and Regulatory Affairs since May 2003 at Minvasys.
"Given the enthusiasm among clinicians attending this year's TCT
congress--regarding clinical data showing that bioabsorbable stents
sustained their safety and effectiveness at two years
post-implantation in patients with coronary artery disease--the timing
of Machiel's appointment to CEO is certainly most opportune," said ART
Director Dr. Thierry Chignon, Director of Investments at Matignon
Technologies, one of the largest medtech-focused funds in Europe.
"Because of ART's approach of achieving temporary stenting of a
traumatized angioplasty site, the Company expects to benefit greatly
from Machiel's proven understanding of the development, regulatory,
clinical, manufacturing and market dynamics of the bioresorbable stent
sector."
"This is a tremendously exciting time to be at ART," said Van Der
Leest. "Preclinical testing shows that ART's bioresorbable stent
provides the requisite initial mechanical scaffolding to resist
recoil. Then, as it dismantles over time in a controlled fashion
because of its polylactic acid makeup, the possibility of remodeling
returns to the artery. Preliminary testing suggests our polymer-based
bioresorbable stent causes little, if any, inflammation in the artery,
which further suggests there is no need to use antiproliferative drugs
with our stent. And, the endothelialization we've seen at 30 days post
implant in preclinical testing is outstanding," added Van Der Leest.
Earlier this year ART announced the leasing of a manufacturing
facility (2,000 square feet) as a result of mastering proprietary
polymer-based manufacturing technology to produce its bioresorbable
stents. The facility is now being made ready for producing the
Company's bioresorbable stents, which can be designed to dismantle in
vivo over an optimized time horizon, thus allowing the body's natural
arterial remodeling process to occur, which is normally restricted by
deployment of permanent metallic stents.
About Arterial Remodeling Technologies ("ART")
Arterial Remodeling Technologies ("ART") is developing
bioresorbable peripheral and coronary polymer stents that promote the
natural remodeling of an injured artery after angioplasty. The
Company's technology is based on intellectual property originating
from three esteemed institutions: the Cleveland Clinic; the French
national research institute, C.N.R.S. (Centre National de Recherche
Scientifique), Montpellier, France; and, Necker University, Paris. To
date, ART has raised EUR 10 ($14.2) million in venture capital from
investors Matignon Technologies and SGAM Alternative Investments.
Ronald Trahan Associates Inc.
Ronald Trahan, APR, 508-359-4005, x108
Copyright Business Wire 2008
