Neovasc announced that the Institut für das Entgeltsystem im Krankenhaus (InEk), the German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System, has awarded its Neovasc Reducer, a CE-Marked medical device for the treatment of refractory angina, NUB status 1 designation again for 2019.
Image: The Reducer is uses to treat refractory angina that occurs when the coronary arteries deliver an inadequate supply of blood to the heart muscle. Photo: courtesy of Ben Schonewille / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
New examination and treatment methods (NUBs) comprise of novel and innovative medicines, medical products and procedures which can be applied by the hospital, i.e. inpatient procedures, before they can be settled via flat rates or additional charges (KHEntgG).
The NUB process opens the path for negotiations between hospitals and health insurances on the reimbursement of new medical treatments in the German system. InEK, is responsible for prioritizing new therapies in Germany through the NUB process.
Yesterday, InEK renewed the status of the Neovasc Reducer as status 1 – the highest priority designation available. A NUB decision is valid for one year and can be renewed annually. This year, 159 German hospitals applied for the Reducer NUB status (compared to 107 German hospitals last year) and can now negotiate reimbursement coverage for the Neovasc Reducer therapy under the German health insurance system.
Fred Colen, CEO of Neovasc, commented, “We are excited to be able to continue treating German patients suffering from refractory angina with the Reducer and an almost 50% increase in the number of hospitals applying for NUB, which we believe is a strong metric to signal the growing adoption of the therapy in Germany. This positive development will allow us to continue our sales and therapy development efforts.”
The Reducer is CE-marked in the European Union for the treatment of refractory angina, a painful and debilitating condition that occurs when the coronary arteries deliver an inadequate supply of blood to the heart muscle, despite treatment with standard revascularization or cardiac drug therapies. It affects millions of patients worldwide, who typically lead severely restricted lives as a result of their disabling symptoms, and its incidence is growing.
The Reducer provides relief of angina symptoms by altering blood flow in the heart’s circulatory system, thereby increasing the perfusion of oxygenated blood to ischemic areas of the heart muscle. Placement of the Reducer is performed using a minimally invasive transvenous procedure that is similar to implanting a coronary stent and is completed in approximately 20 minutes.
Source: Company Press Release