Current Treatments for Aortic Stenosis (AS)
Aortic Stenosis (AS)Aortic Stenosis (AS) is a condition characterized by the thickening and adhesion of the aortic valve due to inflammation and calcification, leading to impaired valve opening and abnormal blood flow from the heart to the aorta.
At present, the only definitive treatment for aortic stenosis is valve replacement.This involves the removal of the diseased valve and its replacement with a new prosthetic valve. The two primary valve replacement procedures are Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or Implantation (TAVR or TAVI).
Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD)
SAVR & TAVR
Currently, there are no pharmacological treatments available for aortic valve calcification. The only therapeutic option is valve replacement surgery or procedure.
- Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR): This procedure involves open-heart surgery, where the chest is opened to replace the stenotic valve with a new artificial valve.
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): This procedure does not require opening the chest. Instead, a small incision is made in the leg, and the valve is replaced through the blood vessels.
- Both procedures carry a significant risk of mortality and various complications during surgery. Additionally, the lifespan of artificial valves is approximately 10 years, making reintervention inevitable. These procedures also come with relatively high medical costs.
The Need for Developing Therapeutics for Aortic Valve Stenosis: Addressing Unmet Clinical Needs
Current Treatment Methods and Limitations for Aortic Valve Stenosis- (SAVR) This procedure involves replacing the aortic valve with an artificial valve through open-heart surgery. For high-risk patients, SAVR has an in-hospital mortality rate of approximately 15-20% and poses significant risks of complications.
- (TAVI) While TAVI offers a less invasive alternative by replacing the valve via the blood vessels without opening the chest, it comes with high costs, increased risk of stroke, potential for paravalvular leak, and concerns about valve durability.
- Statins, which are commonly used for lowering cholesterol, have not been effective in halting the progression of aortic valve stenosis.
The Increasing Need for Safer and More Effective Drug Therapies as Alternatives to Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
Industry Trends
- (Accelerating Aging Population) As societies age, degenerative changes due to aging have recently become the main cause of aortic valve stenosis.
→ Particularly in older populations, the incidence of complications and the risks associated with surgery increase significantly. - (Severe Issue of Symptom Recognition in Aortic Valve Stenosis) Major symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, and in severe cases, syncope, are often mistaken for normal aging processes.
→ Most cases are discovered incidentally during examinations for other conditions, such as artificial joint surgery.
Increasing Number of Aortic Valve Stenosis Patients
(Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea)
The number of patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis is rapidly increasing due to aging populations
- The number of patients increased from approximately 4,600 in 2010 to about 18,000 in 2021, a fourfold increase.
- While congenital valve abnormalities and rheumatic infections are also causes, aging due to rapid population aging accounts for the largest proportion.
The global trend of aging populations is leading to an increase in the number of aortic valve stenosis patients.
However, there is an urgent need to improve the recognition rate due to significantly low awareness of the disease.