NICE Recommends Routine NHS Funding for Bridge to Life's VitaSmart™ System

NICE Endorsement of VitaSmart™

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom has published new guidelines that bring a major advancement in organ transplantation technology. The recently released guideline recommends routine NHS funding for ex-situ perfusion devices, specifically highlighting the VitaSmart™ Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE) System developed by Bridge to Life™ Ltd. This system is instrumental in preserving donor livers for transplantation purposes.

Following an in-depth evaluation, NICE concluded that advanced perfusion systems provide substantial clinical and economic benefits over traditional static cold storage methods. The report noted that hypothermic oxygenated perfusion is associated with improved transplant survival rates and a reduction in biliary complications. Detailed information can be found in the complete NICE guideline published on August 20, 2026 (Reference number HTG780).

Don Webber, CEO, and President of Bridge to Life™, stated, “This NICE recommendation marks a milestone in establishing hypothermic oxygenated perfusion as the standard treatment for liver transplantation. For over a decade, Europe has been utilizing HOPE, showcasing its benefits in perfusion therapy throughout the region. The endorsement by a respected institution like NICE further strengthens confidence in HOPE's clinical and economic advantages, especially as U.S. physicians begin learning about this technology following our De Novo FDA approval.”

The VitaSmart™ System employs HOPE to infuse donor livers with an oxygenated solution prior to transplantation. It is designed for ease of use, efficient capital deployment, and seamless integration into clinical workflows, without the operational complexities or high cost structures associated with normothermic systems. Besides the USA and the UK, VitaSmart™ is also available across Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and all countries recognizing CE marking.

Dr. Rebeca Sanabria Mateos, a leading consultant in liver transplantation surgery at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, expressed, “The routine funding of systems like VitaSmart by the NHS heralds a new era for liver transplant programs in the UK. With equitable access to efficient, user-friendly perfusion technology, our surgical teams can confidently utilize donor organs with extended criteria, optimize operating room logistics, and ultimately provide better treatment outcomes for our patients.”

As the technology continues to gain momentum in Europe and enjoys rapid commercial growth in the USA following FDA approval, Bridge to Life™ remains committed to advancing evidence-based research in organ preservation to broaden the donor pool and enhance patient care worldwide.

About Bridge to Life™ Ltd

Bridge to Life™ Ltd is a global leader in organ preservation and perfusion technology. Driven by a commitment to scientifically-backed innovations, the company assists transplantation teams with advanced tools that expand the donor pool, optimize clinical processes, and improve patient outcomes globally. The VitaSmart™ system complements a robust organ preservation portfolio featuring the Belzer UW® solution, widely regarded as the global gold standard for static cold preservation and the most utilized cold flush solution in abdominal organ transplants. Together, this portfolio positions Bridge to Life uniquely, encompassing both established organ preservation methods and next-generation machine perfusion.