An estimated 8 million people in the developed world suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF) and about 800,000 or 10 per cent have a life expectancy of less than one year.

Currently, the only long-term therapy available for end-stage heart failure is a heart transplant but there are only around 3,500 donor hearts available each year - worldwide.

As other medical advances extend the average life expectancy, the number of people with CHF grows – the American Heart Association estimates congestive heart failure will compound at a rate of 10 per cent annually.

There is a clear and growing need for a cardiac assist system that reduces the need for a heart transplant and enables people a return to a higher quality of life.

Independent analysts have estimated the annual market for cardiac assist systems – such as Ventracor’s leading the VentrAssist® left ventricular assist device – will grow to $US7.5 billion before the end of this decade.

The unique features of the the VentrAssist® LVAD coupled with Ventracor’s ability to manufacture cost-effectively and strong global marketing capabilities will ensure that the Company will secure a significant share of this emerging market.

The drivers for market growth are:

• Despite a general decline in other forms of heart disease, the rate of congestive heart failure is rising. The VentrAssist® LVAD offers the potential to extend lives and restores normal life to this growing patient population.
  
  
• Ventracor’s cardiac assist device technology is aimed primarily as an alternative to heart transplant but other markets include bridge to (heart) transplant and as a potential bridge to recovery.
  
  
• In the major market of the United States, health and insurance authorities are currently reimbursing the cost of systems similar to the the VentrAssist® LVAD. The the VentrAssist® LVAD and cost of the operation are potentially much less than the comparative cost of keeping a heart failure patient in intensive care and also less than the total cost of a heart transplant over a patient's lifetime, due to the greatly reduced need for drug therapy such as immune system suppression drugs.
  
  
• Ventracor’s competitive advantage is its rotary device using hydrodynamic levitation. The robust simplicity of its design, its outstanding bio-compatibility, a unique patented hydrodynamic impeller, small size and affordability set it apart from the other devices.

• There are an estimated 11.2 million sufferers of congestive heart failure worldwide, which is increasing by 10 per cent each year. Of these people, an estimated one million have a life expectancy of less than one year. Each year, only about 3,000 people receive a heart transplant as the only current definitive long-term treatment for end-stage congestive heart failure. At the same time, organ donations are decreasing.
  
  

Europe and the United States represent a significant proportion of the market for congestive heart failure therapy.

Ventracor’s primary focus is to deliver the the VentrAssist® LVAD to the global market.