First Patients in Japan Treated With the Endologix Nellix EVAS System

March 8, 2016—Endologix, Inc. announced that two abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients in Japan have been treated with the Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) system, marking the first uses of the device there. The patients were treated under Japan’s “compassionate use” system, which grants physicians the use of medical treatments not yet approved in Japan for patients who are diagnosed with advanced diseases that are not responsive to existing treatment options.

The procedures were performed by Toru Kuratani, MD, Chairman of the Department of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Medicine at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan.

In the company’s press release, Dr. Kuratani commented, “The unique aneurysm sealing technology of the Nellix system presents a significant opportunity to treat AAA patients that previously had no other treatment options. Type II endoleaks occur in over 30% of our endovascular aneurysm repair cases in Japan, and this device is an excellent solution for prevention of this endoleak. In addition, Nellix is very well positioned to treat the anatomical challenges associated with Asian patients, including difficult iliac anatomy. The first two procedures were completed as planned, and the initial imaging confirms that Nellix effectively sealed and treated the AAAs. We look forward to treating more AAA patients under Japan’s compassionate use system.”