Blackstone Life Sciences to Co-Fund Boston Scientific VITALYST Heart Pump with $455 Million Investment

Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS) has announced a $455 million collaboration with 波士顿科学 to co-fund development of the VITALYST Temporary Percutaneous Transvalvular Circulatory Support System program. The VITALYST system is a next-generation, miniature heart pump intended to increase cardiac output and improve blood flow from the heart to the brain and other vital organs, designed to treat acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening emergency in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the brain and other organs with oxygen. The transaction marks the first time Boston Scientific and Blackstone Life Sciences have co-funded the development of a Boston Scientific product.

Cardiogenic shock, caused by heart attack or other heart issues, is associated with significant mortality despite advances in treatment. The VITALYST system is being developed to address the core unmet needs of these critically ill patients, with the goal of improving efficacy, safety, and ease of use for the physicians treating them.

Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., Global Head of Blackstone Life Sciences, said Boston Scientific has built a leading cardiovascular franchise with deep expertise in developing and commercializing transformative technologies for patients and physicians. Galakatos noted that Blackstone Life Sciences believes the VITALYST system has the potential to improve on the efficacy and safety of currently available mechanical circulatory support technologies, and that the collaboration reflects the firm’s ability to help leaders in innovation bring important new medical devices to patients.