RESILIA valves reshape lifetime care planning

Durability data and transcatheter reintervention options are influencing treatment decisions across Asia-Pacific

RESILIA valve technology is gaining traction across Asia-Pacific as surgeons weigh longer-term durability data and future reintervention options for heart valve patients.

In an interview during the RESILIA Summit, Dr Vikram Jaisinghani, Senior Director for Medical Affairs JAPAC at Edwards Lifesciences Pty Ltd, said RESILIA is derived from the word “resilient” and refers to bovine pericardium treated with Edwards’ proprietary anti-calcification technology.

Jaisinghani said bioprosthetic valves can degenerate over time as they undergo wear and calcification, similar to natural aortic or mitral valves. RESILIA was developed to resist that deterioration and support longer valve performance.

The technology is used across aortic and mitral surgical valves, as well as transcatheter aortic valve replacement through SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA. This allows the same tissue technology to be applied in both surgical and transcatheter procedures.

Across Asia-Pacific, Jaisinghani said RESILIA-based valves are already used in markets including Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Edwards has also recently launched the technology in India, whilst South Korea is expected to see the launch of TAVR RESILIA tissue soon.

He said adoption is being driven by a shift towards lifetime management of heart valve patients. For patients with aortic or mitral stenosis, the choice of first valve increasingly affects future treatment options.

Jaisinghani said the COMMENCE 10-year data showed 97.9% freedom from structural valve deterioration and 97.8% freedom from reoperation due to structural valve deterioration. He said these outcomes are giving surgeons more confidence in considering RESILIA valves, including for younger patients.

Cost and reimbursement remain barriers across Asia-Pacific, where funding systems vary by market. Jaisinghani said Edwards is working through government affairs and market access teams to build economic models showing how durable valves may reduce future interventions and resource use.