 
| “We
must move to the task of educating physicians on the front line. Heart
Hope provides a partnership that leading institutions desperately
need to educate America about the promise of VADs.” |
MEHMET OZ, MD, FACS,
PROFESSOR OF SURGERY
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS |
|
 |
|
|
|
We expect that Destination Therapy adoption will develop over time, and
even if we are able to treat only a small percentage of the potential patient
population, it could represent an annual market approaching $1 billion,
if not more.
We believe the barriers to entry for Destination Therapy are significant
and that no other company has our depth of experience and resources in developing
this kind of market opportunity. Our ability to capture an overwhelming
market leadership position in the heart assist device arena is predicated
on an experienced team of clinical consultants that works with cardiologists,
surgeons and hospitals, as well as sales and marketing professionals who
build and manage our customer relationships. Finally, we have the infrastructure
and financial and management resources to sustain our efforts and realize
our objectives.
Our efforts to foster the growth of Destination Therapy, yet ensure that
it develops in an orderly and responsible manner, revolve around the Company’s
Heart Hope initiative. Heart Hope is a collaboration between Thoratec and
leading heart centers committed to advancing clinical, educational and economical
outcomes associated with the treatment of end-stage heart failure. The initial
response to this program has been highly positive and, in fact, within the
first several weeks of its introduction, over a dozen centers had agreed
to become Heart Hope Centers.
A key element of the initiative is a multi-disciplinary advisory board to
develop advanced practice guidelines to improve clinical outcomes and reduce
costs. In addition, Heart Hope includes business support, physician referral
and patient education tools for centers.
|
