JenaValve Technology, Inc., a privately-held, venture-backed developer, manufacturer and marketer of transcatheter-delivered aortic valve systems (TAVI) for the treatment of aortic valve disease, announced today that it has appointed veteran medical device executive Raymond W. Cohen as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors.

Former Cardiac Science, Vessix Vascular CEO has More than 25 Years of Medical Device Experience. Mr. Cohen has worked as an executive in the medical device industry for more than 25 years and since 2010 served as Chief Executive Officer at privately-held Laguna Hills, CA-based Vessix Vascular Inc., a developer of a novel percutaneous RF balloon catheter renal denervation system used to treat uncontrolled hypertension. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) acquired Vessix in November 2012 in a structured transaction valued at up to $425 million.  

Michael J. Dormer is transitioning from his position as JenaValve’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors to an advisory role.

Helmut J. Straubinger, CEO of JenaValve Technology, said, “With more than 350 device implants to date in Europe and powerful clinical data, it is now the right time for JenaValve to increase awareness of our novel TAVI technology in the U.S. with potential partners, investors, analysts, regulators and clinicians. Given Mr. Cohen’s and Mr. Dormer’s broad U.S. and international experience and successful track records, they will make a great team to bring value to JenaValve and all of its stakeholders.”  

Mr. Cohen currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of a number of public and private U.S.-based companies including  BioLife Solutions, Inc. (OTC: BLFS), a manufacturer of biopreservation media for human cells and tissue, Syncroness, Inc., a contract engineering firm and LoneStart Heart, Inc., a venture capital-backed developer of biomaterials for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Previously, from 1997 to 2006, Cohen was the Chairman and CEO of NASDAQ-listed Irvine, CA-based Cardiac Science, Inc., a manufacturer of external automatic defibrillators.