ROX Medical enrolls first UK patients in CONTROL-HTN hypertension trial at Eastbourne General Hospital

SAN CLEMENTE, California, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ROX Medical announced enrollment of the first UK patients in the CONTROL-HTN international randomized controlled trial of the ROX FLOW procedure for the treatment of resistant hypertension (high blood pressure). The first patients were enrolled at Eastbourne General Hospital, East Sussex, UK by Doctors Neil Sulke and Stephan Furniss. For the two patients randomized to treatment, the ROX procedure was performed in the Cardiac Catheter Lab in under one hour: "It was a very enjoyable and straightforward procedure on a patient with very difficult to control blood pressure," commented Dr. Furniss. "The procedure was relatively painless and the patient showed significant improvement in blood pressure right after the procedure that we'll be anxious to monitor over the coming weeks and months." "We like the fact that the ROX procedure is reversible and that it can treat patients who are not candidates or don't seem to respond to renal denervation," added Dr. Sulke. "This could be a very important new device treatment option for resistant hypertension patients," said Dr. Furniss. "We are anxious to enroll additional patients into this exciting trial."

ROX Medical's FLOW procedure is a minimally invasive, catheter procedure to place a small coupler between the artery and vein in the upper leg. The procedure reduces peripheral vascular resistance and by diverting some arterial blood to the veins, adds lost compliance back into the vascular system. Uniquely, the FLOW procedure only involves vascular structures away from vital organs like the kidneys, has an immediate effect and is fully reversible. The procedure also doesn't require heavy pain medications common to renal ablation techniques. The ROX procedure holds the promise of a meaningful long-term reduction in hypertension that may be combined with other device hypertension therapies.

"We are honored and excited to have the highly respected team of cardiologists at Eastbourne involved in the CONTROL-HTN study," said ROX CEO Rodney Brenneman.

The ROX FLOW procedure for hypertension is not approved for use in the U.S.