SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guided Delivery Systems Inc., a company developing a novel treatment to address heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation, today announced Jeffrey M. Closs has assumed the role of President and CEO and the company has completed a name change to Ancora Heart, Inc.
Closs, who joined as President and CEO in November 2015, has an extensive background across cardiovascular medical devices, health policy and technology. Previously, he was the co-founder, President and CEO of Benu, Inc., an early innovator in risk-adjusted healthcare exchanges. The company was sold to PlanSource in 2015. Prior to co-founding Benu, Closs spent significant time in the cardiovascular industry as President and CEO at Fox Hollow Technologies, Inc., and as Vice President and International General Manager for Perclose. As part of the senior executive team at Perclose, he helped lead the company from its early formation through a successful IPO and ultimately to an acquisition by Abbott Laboratories. Prior to Perclose, Closs held sales, marketing and clinical positions with Devices for Vascular Intervention and Bentley/Edwards Labs.
“Since joining the company, I have seen the significant opportunity for the AccuCinch® Ventriculoplasty System to address the unmet needs for treating heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation patients,” said Closs, President and CEO of Ancora Heart. “Our new name, Ancora Heart, better reflects our unique approach and mechanism of remodeling the left ventricle to address heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation.”
“Jeff is a tremendous asset to the company and has had a year of significant accomplishments with the team,” said Bob Croce, Chairman of the Board. “Since assuming the role of Chairman in December 2013, I have been pleased with the progress we are making to advance AccuCinch as an innovative new concept and solution for heart failure and FMR treatment options.”
Croce has significant healthcare experience having previously served 12 years as Company Group Chairman during his 36-year career at Johnson & Johnson. Roles included: Worldwide Franchise Chairman of Cordis, Worldwide Franchise Chairman for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, McNeil Pharmaceutical Vice President of Business Development and President of Ethicon, Inc.
“I’m thrilled to be leading Ancora during this exciting time,” said Closs. “We look forward to building on a year of significant progress that included technical refinements to the AccuCinch system, implementation of a well-defined clinical and regulatory strategy, and expansion of enrollment in our clinical studies in both Europe and the United States.”
About Ancora Heart
Ancora Heart is a medical technology company developing the percutaneous AccuCinch® Ventriculoplasty System for the minimally invasive treatment of heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). AccuCinch is intended to treat left ventricular remodeling and mitral annular dilatation that leads to heart failure and FMR. More information can be found at www.ancoraheart.com.
