Edwards Lifesciences’ Tissue Valve Is OKd

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. said Thursday it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its tissue valve used for heart valve replacements.

The Irvine cardiovascular products company said in a news release that its Edwards Prima Plus Stentless Bioprosthesis is a pig’s heart valve that can be used to replace human aortic valves.

Edwards Lifesciences said tissue valves such as the Edwards Prima Plus offer certain advantages over mechanical valves, one being that patients don’t have to take blood thinning medications on a long-term basis.

According to the company, stentless valves represent about 10% of all tissue valve replacements in the United States. The Edwards Prima Plus has already been used in Europe.

Shares of Edwards Lifesciences gained 28 cents Thursday to close at $21.23 on the New York Stock Exchange.