Pulmonx Starts UK Clinical Trial at Royal Brompton Hospital with Minimally Invasive Lung Valve Treatment Offering Hope to Emphysema Patients

London, UK, October 28, 2015 – A clinical trial recently commenced at Royal Brompton Hospital to evaluate a minimally-invasive valve based treatment that may help patients suffering from severe emphysema breathe easier without surgery.

Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects an estimated three million people in the UK and is a progressive disease causing continual breathlessness for patients, even while at rest. Smokers or ex-smokers are most commonly affected by the disease, where portions of the lung are destroyed and air is trapped in pockets, hyperinflating localized regions in the lung. The hyperinflated portion of the lung compresses the healthy areas of the lung, making it difficult to breathe. The inability to breathe freely can drastically limit a patient’s stamina and activity level, as well as their quality of life.

Today, emphysema patients often use medication including inhalers to relieve symptoms, but the disease is progressive so their lungs continue to deteriorate over time. Severe emphysema patients have few available treatment options, including lung volume reduction surgery, which is not suitable for all patients, and lung transplantation, which is limited by the availability of donor organs.

The treatment being evaluated in a new international, multicenter study, LIBERATE, involves bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) using the Zephyr^® Endobronchial Valve. First, patients are assessed to see which have the highest chance

of benefitting from the procedure. Patients who are identified as potential responders will be randomized into either the treatment group or a control group and patients in the treatment group will have tiny one-way valves placed in the lungs using a bronchoscope. The valves are designed to block airflow to diseased regions of the lung. This allows healthy regions to expand and function more efficiently, enabling better breathing and improving quality of life. No invasive surgery is involved in the procedure.

“Patients suffering from severe emphysema have very few effective treatment options available to them today. This BLVR procedure offers a minimally-invasive alternative that may reduce their symptoms and significantly improve their lung function and quality of life,” said Dr. Pallav Shah, consultant physician in respiratory medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital.

In the UK, the LIBERATE clinical study will be recruiting patients at Royal Brompton Hospital, Bristol Royal Infirmary and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.

More than 10,000 patients have been treated with the Zephyr^® valves in the last 10 years. Clinical studies have shown that the majority of patients who undergo the procedure experience significant improvement in lung function, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Zephyr^® EBV has received CE Mark and is commercially available in several European countries, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Results from the LIBERATE Study will be used as part of the submission seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To take a pre-screening test to see if you may be a candidate for the LIBERATE clinical trial please visit www.pulmonx.com/ous/patients/ongoing-clinical-trials/ or call 0800 917 8992.

About Pulmonx

Based in Redwood City, California, and Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Pulmonx is an interventional pulmonology company focused on developing life-changing, cost-effective technologies that improve the lives of patients suffering from lung disease worldwide.

For more information, visit www.pulmonx.com.

Media Contact

Mike Sinclair
Halsin Partners
Phone: (020) 7318-2955
E-Mail: [email protected]

The Zephyr^® EBV is an investigational device in the United States. Limited by U.S. law to investigational use.