Intact Vascular, Inc. is a Wayne, Pennsylvania-based developer of medical devices for treating patients with peripheral artery disease. According to its website, the privately-held company primarily develops minimally invasive peripheral vascular products, such as the Tack Endovascular System, which is stated to optimize percutaneous balloon angioplasty results in the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

According to a press release, Intact Vascular has raised $38.9 million in a Series B venture capital financing led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with participation from Quaker Partners, H.I.G. BioVentures, and other existing investors. NEA Parner Justin Klein, MD, JD, has joined Intact Vascular’s Board of Directors as a result of the deal.

The press release indicates that the funds will be used to further develop and refine the Tack Endovascular System implant and delivery system, which has already been put through three international clinical trials and has resulted in a CE-Mark.

According to Intact Vascular’s website, the Tack Endovascular System is designed to effectively spot treat and repair arterial dissections in peripheral arteries following angioplasty using a minimal metal implant.

Intact Vascular’s website lists several features of the Tack Endovascular System that are purported to be unique. The website indicates that minimal use of metal reduces the amount of foreign material left behind in the body, resulting in reduced inflammation. The design also places less force on the vessel wall, which reduces vessel trauma and reaction. Other stated benefits of the design include allowing physicians to focus treatment only on the areas of the vessel where dissections are present, and allowing for the device to fit a wide range of artery diameters — eliminating the need to precisely size the device to a specific arterial diameter, an improvement over conventional stents.

This Tack Endovascular System has room to make a big impact: peripheral artery disease currently affects more than 200 million people worldwide, and over 19 million people in the U.S., with the numbers increase annually due to obesity, diabetes, and advancing age. However, newly-appointed member of the Board of Directors, Dr. Justin Klein, is optimistic. He states that: “Intact Vascular’s approach to peripheral artery disease is truly novel and has the potential to significantly improve treatment of this rapidly growing disease.”

Only time will tell if the Tack Endovascular System is able to meet this potential.