There’s no doubt mostly everything has been put on pause as a response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, even as the virus is taking top priority in healthcare, there are still some clinical trials unrelated to the pandemic that are making progress.

Recently, cardiovascular specialist Mardil Medical completed the treatment of a third patient in its clinical trial to treat Type IIIB Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation (FMR) with an improved VenTouch.

The Minneapolis, MN-based company’s device is a minimally invasive option and combination therapy that simultaneously treats the distorted valve, the dilated ventricle and the displaced papillary muscles.

The latest VenTouch therapy was completed March 23 at Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center in Budapest, Hungary.

Mardil said in a release that it’s also initiating clinical trials to study the VenTouch therapy in patients who also have clinically significant Functional Tricuspid valve Regurgitation (FTR) and in patients who have had previous trans-vascular mitral regurgitation interventions that were ineffective, or regurgitation recurred.

"This work is the culmination of years of research and clinical activity. It is gratifying to see the impact that the VenTouch therapy is having on these patients, and exciting to consider the impact it may have on the broader clinical population," Aaron Hjelle, COO of Mardil Medical, said in a release. "Mardil is continuing to develop compelling therapies for patients with cardiac valve disease. Clinical trials for a therapy to treat tricuspid valve regurgitation will begin this year."