The Future Is Here: Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices Rapidly Enter Clinical Practice
In August 2022, China completed its first implantation of a domestically produced transcatheter artificial heart, drawing extensive attention from clinicians. In late October, news that talk show comedian Wang Shiqi had received an artificial heart implant and was living a healthy life went viral across the internet. The keyword “He has no heartbeat, yet can live like a normal person” rapidly topped the Weibo trending search list, propelling artificial hearts into the public spotlight. In early November, Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers, announced it would acquire Abiomed, an artificial heart manufacturer, for approximately $16.6 billion, further intensifying interest in transcatheter artificial hearts.
Currently, more than six companies in China have embarked on the research and development of interventional artificial hearts, with different firms simultaneously developing artificial heart devices. These two product categories target distinct patient populations and indications, thereby offering different market opportunities and sizes.
Currently, only Abiomed’s Impella series of percutaneous artificial heart products has received FDA approval. However, Chinese manufacturers are accelerating product development and have successfully entered the first tier of the global percutaneous artificial heart sector, as evidenced by the successful completion of the first clinical application of a domestically produced percutaneous artificial heart in China.
VCBeat-hosted online roundtable discussion, “The Future Is Here! Interventional Artificial Hearts Move Toward Clinical Application,” will be held on Friday, November 25 at 19:30.
Chen Haiqing
Xinqing Medical | Head of Investment and Financing
With nearly a decade of professional experience, I previously worked at China Renaissance and PwC, accumulating extensive expertise in the capital markets and management consulting industries. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at HeartQuake Medical, I lead the comprehensive management of corporate strategy, business development (BD), financing, and finance.
Zheng Weizhou
Tongling Bionic Technology | Deputy General Manager
A seasoned healthcare industry professional and serial entrepreneur. Currently serves as a founding partner and Deputy General Manager of Anhui Tongling Bionics Technology Co., Ltd., and as Deputy Dean of the USTC-Tongling Bionics Research Institute. Previously held positions at Shanghai MicroPort Medical (Group) Corp. and Medtronic (China), where he spent many years engaged in R&D and technical management of high-end medical devices. Later served as Head of Strategic Investment for the Medical Device Division of a publicly listed company, and as Co-founder of a renowned medical technology company.
Gao Jieliang
CDH VGC | Senior Partner
Gao Jieliang, Senior Partner at CDH Innovation and Growth Fund. With over a decade of investment and industry experience in the healthcare sector, his investment portfolio includes HeartCare Medical, Nuomai Medical, Demei Medical, Changmugu, GuiChuang TongQiao (2190.HK), Aibo Medical, Yuesai Biologics, Weiyuan Genomics, Stance Bioscience, Nanxin Pharmaceutical (688189), Zhenghai Biological Technology (300653), Shiyuan Weiming, and Aier Eye Hospital.
Ding Guanhua
Chende Capital | Investment Director
Mr. Ding Guanhua currently serves as Investment Director at Chende Capital. Prior to joining Chende Capital, he worked at CAS Starlight, focusing on healthcare investments, where he led investments in projects such as Bodong Medical and Wushuang Medical. Before entering the investment field, he was engaged in R&D at GE Healthcare and Mindray. Mr. Ding holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University.
[About HeartPulse Medical]
Suzhou Xinqing Medical Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in May 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Xu Boling, a recipient of China’s National Talent Program, the first Chinese member of the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support (ISMCS), and a distinguished professor at Soochow University. The company was jointly established with a top-tier team of domestic and international experts with extensive experience in artificial organ development, dedicated to creating a next-generation extracorporeal life support platform for acute and critical care scenarios. Starting with heart failure, Xinqing Medical is committed to building a multi-organ failure life support platform, benchmarking against the most advanced international heart failure product pipelines, and strategically positioning itself to address the comprehensive needs of patients with acute and critical conditions. Its institutional shareholders include Guoqian Venture Capital, Northern Light Venture Capital, Mifang Capital, Taiyu Investment, Huatai Healthcare Fund, SND Venture Capital, Sequoia Capital, Qianji Capital, CDH VGC, and others.
The HeartEngine minimally invasive interventional artificial heart consists of a control unit, a motor, and an introducer sheath. Thanks to the superior collapsibility ratio of the introducer sheath, it ensures a minimal insertion profile while delivering sufficient blood flow for patients with cardiogenic shock. Independently designed and customized production lines enable the introducer sheath to achieve both compact dimensions and high stability, backed by extensive expertise in specialized manufacturing processes.
[About Tongling Bionics]
Tongling Bionics is a provider of full-lifecycle solutions for heart failure, dedicated to offering integrated global diagnosis and treatment solutions for patients with the condition. The company has initiated the research and development of percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVAD) in China, while also developing a portfolio of innovative products for heart failure management, including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) systems, external counterpulsation therapy systems, non-invasive cardiac output monitors, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) equipment. Its aim is to create an integrated solution encompassing the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of heart failure.
[About CDH VGC]
CDH Investments, established in 2002, is one of the most influential alternative asset management firms in China, with assets under management exceeding RMB 170 billion to date. CDH VGC is a fund under CDH Investments focused on innovation and growth-stage investments, primarily covering four key sectors: healthcare, consumer-facing (ToC) consumption, business-facing (ToB) enterprise services, and technological innovation. The core philosophy of CDH Investments is to partner with strivers to create long-term value. Over the past decade, CDH has collaborated with numerous outstanding enterprises in the fields of biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services, and internet-based healthcare. CDH firmly believes that allocating resources to exceptional healthcare companies will inevitably drive progress in both the industry and society.
[About Chende Capital]
Chende Capital is an investment firm focused on innovative medical technologies and cutting-edge biotechnology sectors. Managed and operated by a professional team with extensive experience in the healthcare industry, it oversees multiple RMB and USD funds. Adhering to the investment philosophy of “focus, excellence, and reputation,” Chende Capital leverages its deep industrial resources in the healthcare sector and years of in-depth research and engagement to promptly identify global technological trends and seize investment opportunities driven by technological innovation. Committed to discovering top-tier companies with leadership potential, Chende Capital collaborates with entrepreneurs to build an industrial ecosystem and achieve mutual growth through its interconnected, win-win investment methodology and a precise, pragmatic post-investment value-creation system, thereby delivering optimal returns to its investors.
[About VCBeat]
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[About VB Think Tank]
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