Vascular Therapies is a biotechnology company focused on improving patient outcomes by reducing surgical stenosis in patients with kidney and vascular disease. The company has developed Sirogen™, an investigational sirolimus formulation for local, perivascular drug delivery.
Reducing Surgical Stenosis for Patients with Kidney Disease
A Growing Problem
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious and growing health problem, affecting 1 in 10 American adults. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the final stage of CKD. A patient with ESRD has kidney failure and unless the lost kidney function is replaced, ESRD is fatal.
Replacing Lost Function
Worldwide, about 70% of patients with ESRD depend on hemodialysis to replace their lost kidney function, and patients generally undergo dialysis treatment three times a week.
The Need for a Better Solution
To prepare the patient for dialysis, a surgeon connects an artery and a vein in the forearm or upper arm. This procedure is intended to make the vein suitable for vascular access and allow for the consistent, high flow of blood necessary for dialysis. Unfortunately, this approach often fails putting the patient’s health — even life — in danger.
How Vascular Therapies is Addressing the Need
Sirogen™
Vascular Therapies’ approach is to deliver sirolimus (a drug) locally to the blood vessel at and around the anastomosis. It is doing so by implanting a collagen-based drug delivery system containing sirolimus (SirogenTM) at the time of the surgical procedure. Vascular Therapies’ goal is to prevent the vein from narrowing and provide adequate blood flow to support consistent dialysis.
Caution: FDA has tentatively approved the proprietary tradename Sirogen™ for Vascular Therapies’ formulation of sirolimus. Sirogen™ is an investigational product that is not available for sale in any country.