On-site availability of the Paragonix Advanced Organ Preservation System streamlines organ transplantation process, enabling successful transplants of donor livers that would have otherwise been discarded.

WALTHAM, MA. January 17, 2024 – Paragonix Technologies, a pioneer in organ transplant solutions, is proud to publicly announce the recurrent success of a new, innovative strategy recently developed to minimize the complexities and logistics of placing high-risk donor livers. Pioneered in tandem with Mid-America Transplant, a leading organ procurement organization that specializes in managing organ and tissue donations, this new initiative effectively harnesses advanced liver preservation technology to utilize donor livers that would have otherwise not been accepted for use in transplantation.Notably, the renowned organ procurement organization (OPO) has successfully employed the new initiative to accommodate the workflow of multiple challenging liver transplant surgeries performed by Tampa General Hospital, recognized as the fourth largest liver transplant center in the United States.

Mid-America Transplant facilitated these complex cases through a readily available supply of Paragonix Advanced Organ Preservation devices, specifically stocking the LIVERguard^® Donor Liver Preservation System on-site for immediate or urgent use. In each of these cases, the donor livers had been declined by several transplant centers due to compromised ischemic times. However, the availability of LIVERguard enabled Tampa General Hospital, in collaboration with Mid-America Transplant, to successfully transplant the organs. This repeated success showcases the potential impact of Paragonix's innovative technology in expanding the pool of viable organs for transplantation.

Mid-America Transplant views the LIVERguard System as a tool they can bring to high-risk donor cases, including DCD (Death by Circulatory Death), to utilize organs that may be more difficult to place, or may otherwise be discarded. “Our role is to be the best possible stewards of the gifts entrusted to us by our donor heroes and their families,” said Rich Rothweiler, the director of Organ Utilization at Mid-America Transplant. “Using LIVERguard has enabled us to complete a successful transplant that might not have happened otherwise, giving someone a second chance at life.”

This unique workflow illustrates the effective utilization of Advanced Organ Preservation devices as a mechanism to overcome common challenges, like extended ischemic times or distance, which can lead to viable organs being discarded. The technology ensures unmatched organ protection during transport, along with real-time reporting of organ conditions and location, which could broaden the number of viable organs available for transplantation.

Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of Tampa General Hospital Transplant Institute, emphasized the critical role of LIVERguard in these groundbreaking salvage operations. "Tampa General Hospital is firmly committed to utilizing technology in the best interest of patients. Our partnership with Paragonix has allowed us to consider organs from farther away and of more medical complexity than we have ever been able to previously consider. The partnership that we have developed with Mid-America Transplant has facilitated Midwest organs being transplanted in Florida. This partnership fulfills the mission of all three organizations to transplant more patients.”

L-575 Ver. 0