Belarusian biological heart valve: advantages of development

The biological heart valve was developed by the Belarusian OJSC Plant Electronmash together with specialists of the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre. The Acting Director of the enterprise, Sergei Sirotkin, spoke about the advantages of the implant and its import-substituting role in his talk with the STV TV channel, sb.by reports.

Sergei Sirotkin noted that the company has been developing the product together with leading specialists of the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre since 2017, “The biological heart valve is good for the prosthetics of patients after 65 years. Therefore, in 2017, together with the leading specialists of the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre, Yuri Ostrovsky and Yuri Chesnov, the development of this product began. All stages of testing were passed and were excellent. Now, clinical trials are being conducted in two cardiac centres (the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre in Minsk and the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital). As of today, about seven operations have already been performed, the valve has proved to be perfect, and patients feel great after the surgery.”

The peculiarity of the Belarusian development is that the bio-valve was created from the calf pericardium. Sergei Sirotkin explained how it differs from a mechanical valve, “When implanting a mechanical heart valve, patients are required to take blood-thinning drugs for the rest of their lives, which also have certain side effects. When implanting the biological one, such drugs no longer need to be taken, and this also has a positive effect on a person's life.”

The Acting Director of the enterprise also stated that there are plans to start mass production of bio-valves. The Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre plans to purchase 30 such implants at its own expense this year.

According to Sergei Sirotkin, a limited number of countries are engaged in such developments, “I know that there are manufacturers in the United States of America, in the Russian Federation, but not every country will undertake the development of such a product. They can be counted on the fingers of one hand.”

Sergei Sirotkin noted that the Head of State has long set the task of import substitution, “Buying this valve abroad is not the cheapest pleasure. Moreover, we decided to take it up as we have wonderful cardiac surgeons who are able to set tasks, control and assist in the implementation of this work. And I think that we will succeed.”

He stressed that the cost of the Belarusian implant will be 35-40 per cent less than the price of the imported one.

Sergei Sirotkin emphasised that the plant has been manufacturing mechanical heart valves for a long time and produces them in sufficient volumes to fully meet the demand of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, “Last year, we supplied 1,035 mechanical heart valves for the needs of the Ministry of Health institutions, and this year we plan to supply 1,220. Therefore, our clinics are fully equipped, and there is no need to stand in line.”

The Acting Director of the enterprise also stressed that the plant does not use any imported materials other than Russian-made ones in the production of biological and mechanical heart valves, and this has always been the case.

As for exports, according to Sergei Sirotkin, the products of OJSC Plant Electronmash are registered in Uzbekistan, and the registration of the latest developments of the enterprise in Kazakhstan is being completed. 

“We are thinking of moving on to other regions,” Sergei Sirotkin concluded.