6. Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifescience’s Sapien 3 TAVR [Image courtesy of Edwards]
R&D spend: $443.3 million
Percent of revenues: 15.0%
2017 overall revenue rank: 28
Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, Calif.) continues to improve on TAVR technology. Its Sapien 3 transcatheter aortic valve received U.S. FDA approval in 2015 for the treatment of high or greater risk patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis – with the indication expanded in 2016 to include patients at intermediate-risk of open-heart surgery. The Sapien 3 has a low frame height to better respect cardiac anatomy, and it has an enhanced frame geometry for ultra-low delivery profile and a high radial strength for circularity and optimal hemodynamics, according to Edwards (NYSE: EW).
