NICE Recommends NHS Funding for VitaSmart™ Organ Preservation System by Bridge to Life in UK
Bridge to Life™ Ltd., a renowned leader in organ preservation solutions, recently celebrated a significant milestone with the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) endorsing the routine funding of its innovative VitaSmart™ system by the National Health Service (NHS). The publication of NICE's new healthcare technology guidance marks a pivotal moment in the realm of organ transplantation, particularly concerning the preservation of deceased donor livers for transplant purposes. The recommendation is based on an extensive evaluation revealing that advanced hypothermic oxygenated perfusion systems, like VitaSmart™, offer significant clinical and economic advantages compared to traditional static cold storage methods.
NICE's assessment highlighted that hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) is associated with improved graft survival rates and a reduction in biliary complications, thus affirming the clinical viability of this novel method. This guidance was officially released on August 20, 2026, under the reference number HTG780 and has sparked keen interest in the medical community surrounding liver transplantation.
According to Don Webber, CEO of Bridge to Life™, the NICE recommendation solidifies the importance of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion as the standard treatment for liver transplants. "Europe has recognized the value of HOPE for over a decade, and this endorsement from NICE only enhances the credibility of this method as US physicians begin to embrace the technology following our FDA De Novo authorization. VitaSmart™ has been engineered specifically to deliver these proven clinical outcomes in a user-friendly, scalable, and cost-effective format," he stated.
VitaSmart™ employs HOPE to supply an oxygenated solution to donor livers before transplantation, making the procedure more efficient and effective. Its design focuses on operational simplicity and seamless integration into clinical workflows, avoiding the complexities and high costs often associated with normothermic systems. The system not only is available in the UK and the US but also extends to several countries across Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and those compliant with CE marking.
Rebecca Sanabria Mateos, a consultant transplant surgeon at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, expressed optimism about the NHS's routine funding for systems like VitaSmart™. "This development represents the beginning of a new era for liver transplant programs in the UK. Access to efficient and straightforward perfusion technology empowers our surgical teams to safely utilize extended criteria donor organs, optimizes surgical logistics, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for our patients."
The international adoption of the VitaSmart™ system in Europe and its rapid commercial growth in the US follows its FDA De Novo approval, underscoring Bridge to Life's commitment to advancing evidence-based preservation science, which expands the donor pool and improves patient care worldwide.
Bridge to Life™ Ltd. remains a global front-runner in organ preservation technology. By consistently prioritizing scientific innovation, the company equips transplant teams with advanced tools that enhance donor yield, streamline clinical workflows, and elevate patient outcomes across the globe. VitaSmart™ joins a portfolio of preservation products led by the Belzer UW® solution, recognized as the global gold standard in static cold preservation and the most widely utilized cold washing solution in abdominal organ transplants. Collectively, this suite of products distinguishes Bridge to Life as a comprehensive provider of both traditional preservation and cutting-edge perfusion technology, ultimately transforming the landscape of organ transplant procedures.
NICE's assessment highlighted that hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) is associated with improved graft survival rates and a reduction in biliary complications, thus affirming the clinical viability of this novel method. This guidance was officially released on August 20, 2026, under the reference number HTG780 and has sparked keen interest in the medical community surrounding liver transplantation.
According to Don Webber, CEO of Bridge to Life™, the NICE recommendation solidifies the importance of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion as the standard treatment for liver transplants. "Europe has recognized the value of HOPE for over a decade, and this endorsement from NICE only enhances the credibility of this method as US physicians begin to embrace the technology following our FDA De Novo authorization. VitaSmart™ has been engineered specifically to deliver these proven clinical outcomes in a user-friendly, scalable, and cost-effective format," he stated.
VitaSmart™ employs HOPE to supply an oxygenated solution to donor livers before transplantation, making the procedure more efficient and effective. Its design focuses on operational simplicity and seamless integration into clinical workflows, avoiding the complexities and high costs often associated with normothermic systems. The system not only is available in the UK and the US but also extends to several countries across Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and those compliant with CE marking.
Rebecca Sanabria Mateos, a consultant transplant surgeon at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, expressed optimism about the NHS's routine funding for systems like VitaSmart™. "This development represents the beginning of a new era for liver transplant programs in the UK. Access to efficient and straightforward perfusion technology empowers our surgical teams to safely utilize extended criteria donor organs, optimizes surgical logistics, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for our patients."
The international adoption of the VitaSmart™ system in Europe and its rapid commercial growth in the US follows its FDA De Novo approval, underscoring Bridge to Life's commitment to advancing evidence-based preservation science, which expands the donor pool and improves patient care worldwide.
Bridge to Life™ Ltd. remains a global front-runner in organ preservation technology. By consistently prioritizing scientific innovation, the company equips transplant teams with advanced tools that enhance donor yield, streamline clinical workflows, and elevate patient outcomes across the globe. VitaSmart™ joins a portfolio of preservation products led by the Belzer UW® solution, recognized as the global gold standard in static cold preservation and the most widely utilized cold washing solution in abdominal organ transplants. Collectively, this suite of products distinguishes Bridge to Life as a comprehensive provider of both traditional preservation and cutting-edge perfusion technology, ultimately transforming the landscape of organ transplant procedures.
Topics Health）
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