Medtronic demonstrates the durability of the Valiant® Thoracic Stent Graft System after five-year data in VALOR II Study

Valor II U.S. Study Shows Strong Safety and Efficacy in Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

DUBLIN and Newport, R.I., 8-10-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today announced favorable five-year data in the VALOR II Study, demonstrating the durability of the Valiant® Thoracic Stent Graft System, an innovative and minimally invasive treatment for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA). The data, results of five-year patient follow-up, were presented on Friday, October 2, 2015 by Mark F. Conrad, M.D., Director of Clinical Research, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Assistant Program Director, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery for Massachusetts General Hospital, at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the New England Society for Vascular Surgery in Newport, R.I.

“The five-year results from VALOR II provide confidence to physicians treating patients with descending TAA, in the durability and effectiveness of the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft System,” said Dr. Conrad. “The five-year data demonstrate a high rate of freedom from aneurysm-related mortality and rare incidences of rupture or conversion to open surgery.”

A TAA is a dangerous weakening and subsequent bulge in the aorta (the body’s main artery) near where it branches off the heart; those that rupture usually result in death. An estimated 60,000 people in the U.S. alone have a TAA. Those aneurysms that are detected before rupturing can usually be effectively treated with stent grafts or invasive surgery.

VALOR II is a prospective, single-arm study that involved 160 patients at 24 U.S. medical centers. It was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft System for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of aneurysms in the descending thoracic aorta.

Key VALOR II five-year follow-up findings include:

• 94.8 percent freedom from aneurysm related mortality
• 1.3 percent rupture rate
• 6.9 percent required secondary procedures
• 0.6 percent (1/160) conversion to open surgery rate
• 89.3 percent of patients had stable or decreased aneurysm size
• 0.0 percent migration reported (defined as >10mm from the 1-month follow-up)
• 0.0 percent loss of integrity reported

“The Valiant system leverages Medtronic’s 17 years of thoracic stent graft experience and innovation, and is proven in more than 70,000 patients,” said Daveen Chopra, vice president and general manager of the Aortic business, which is part of the Aortic & Peripheral Vascular division at Medtronic. “The VALOR II study proves the durability of the system and our commitment to clinical research and improving patient outcomes with an objective to settle for nothing less.”

The Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft System is indicated for the endovascular repair of all lesions of the descending thoracic aorta in patients having appropriate anatomy, including: iliac or femoral access vessel morphology that is compatible with vascular access techniques, devices, and/or accessories, non-aneurysmal aortic diameter in the range of 18-42 mm and non-aneurysmal aortic proximal and distal neck lengths >= 20 mm.

In collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias. The company strives to offer products and services that deliver clinical and economic value to healthcare consumers and providers around the world.

About Medtronic
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

-end-

Contacts:
Krystin Hayward
Public Relations
+1-508-261-6512

Ryan Weispfenning
Investor Relations
+1-763-505-4626