Dundee-based medical devices firm AorTech today said it was making strong progress with its new heart valve products on the back of promising test results.
In a trading update the company said the latest design is a “major step forward” and on some measurements test results are two to three times better than earlier models. Trial manufacturing of grafts for the devices is now under way.
The company, which started life in Lanarkshire, has also recruited Dr Sarah Grant as project manager for new product development in a post funded by Scottish Enterprise.
The company said it continued to manage its finances “very carefully“ with net cash burn over the six months to September 2019 of only £100,000 leaving it with £2.3m in the bank.
Lenzie-born chairman Bill Brown said: “Since implementing our strategy of transitioning AorTech to a medical device company, much effort was spent in laying the foundations to deliver life-changing medical devices.
“These foundations are now being built upon and progress is strong; the latest design of the heart valve is a major step forward and, on some measurements, test results are two to three times better than from earlier designs. With new cleanroom facilities having been completed at RUA Medical, trial manufacturing of the grafts is now underway.”
AorTech, which receives licence income from its portfolio of medical grade polymers, is carrying out R&D on three medical devices.
