Shockwave Medical, a pioneer in the treatment of calcified cardiovascular disease, today announced the appointment of Doug Godshall as president and CEO.
Godshall was most recently the CEO and a director of HeartWare International, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTWR), a leader in the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) market where he served for 10 years until the company was acquired by Medtronic in August of 2016 for $1.1 billion. Prior to HeartWare, Godshall held various executive and leadership positions at Boston Scientific including president of the Vascular Surgery Division and a member of Boston Scientific's Operating Committee. He also served as vice president, Business Development, where he was responsible for more than 70 transactions, including many in the arenas of coronary and peripheral interventions.
“Shockwave represents a rather remarkable combination: the company’s Lithoplasty system is addressing significant unmet clinical needs using a truly novel approach to the problem; there is a near term, substantial commercial opportunity; and the company has a product pipeline that can carry it for years into the future,” said Mr. Godshall. “From the time I first learned of Shockwave, I have heard remarkably consistent feedback about the profound difference this system makes on some of the most challenging interventional procedures. The team has done a superb job bringing the technology from concept through clinical validation, and I am honored to be given this opportunity to take the reins from one of the company’s founders, Daniel Hawkins, who has worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality.”
“Doug brings a proven track record and a wealth of directly relevant experience to the company,” said Daniel Hawkins, co-founder of Shockwave Medical. “He shares our passion for Lithoplasty technology and its potential role in the treatment of patients across a wide range of advanced cardiovascular disease. We are thrilled to have him leading the company through the next phases of growth and expansion.”
“We are excited to welcome an executive of Doug’s caliber and experience to the Shockwave team at this important time in the company’s development,” added Jay Watkins, the company’s chairman of the Board. “His unique combination of skills gives us a rare opportunity to accelerate commercialization simultaneously in both coronary and peripheral applications, while continuing to advance our valve program. All of us in the organization are extremely grateful to Daniel Hawkins for showing the vision and leadership needed to move this technology successfully from the bench to the patient over these past seven years.”
About Shockwave Medical’s Lithoplasty® System
The Shockwave Medical Lithoplasty System integrates angioplasty balloon catheter devices with the calcium-disrupting power of sonic pressure waves, known as lithotripsy. Each Lithoplasty catheter incorporates multiple lithotripsy emitters activated with the touch of a button after the integrated balloon is inflated. Once activated, these emitters produce therapeutic sonic pressure waves that are inherently tissue-selective, passing through the balloon and soft vascular tissue, preferentially disrupting the calcified plaque inside the vessel wall by creating a series of micro-fractures. When the calcium has been modified, the vessel can be dilated using low pressures, thereby enabling even historically challenging patients to be treated effectively with minimal injury to the vessel.
To view an animation of the Lithoplasty System visit http://shockwavemedical.com.
The Shockwave Medical Peripheral Lithoplasty System is commercially available in Europe and the United States and is intended for lithotripsy-enhanced balloon dilatation of lesions, including calcified lesions, in the peripheral vasculature, including the iliac, femoral, ilio-femoral, popliteal, infra-popliteal, and renal arteries. Not for use in the coronary or cerebral vasculature.
About Shockwave Medical
Shockwave Medical, based in Fremont, Calif., is working to reshape interventional therapy with Lithoplasty® Technology for the treatment of calcified peripheral vascular, coronary vascular and heart valve disease. For more information, visit www.shockwavemedical.com.
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Jessica Volchok, 310-849-7985
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