Company Description
BioCardia, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCDA) is a clinical-stage company developing cellular and cell-derived therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. According to company disclosures, BioCardia focuses on patients with ischemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), chronic myocardial ischemia with refractory angina, and other serious conditions where existing therapies may offer limited benefit. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and its common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol BCDA.
Core biotherapeutic platforms
BioCardia states that its work centers on two primary cell therapy platforms derived from bone marrow. The CardiAMP autologous cell therapy platform uses a patient’s own bone marrow cells. It is being advanced for ischemic HFrEF and chronic myocardial ischemia with refractory angina. The company describes CardiAMP as a minimally invasive, catheter-based therapy intended to increase capillary density and reduce tissue fibrosis in myocardial tissue to address microvascular dysfunction. CardiAMP Cell Therapy for heart failure has received FDA Breakthrough designation and its clinical development has been supported by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund and reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). BioCardia notes that CardiAMP is limited by United States law to investigational use.
The CardiALLO allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy platform is described as an immunomodulatory, off‑the‑shelf cell therapy. Company materials indicate that CardiALLO is being developed for ischemic HFrEF and has also been referenced in connection with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). BioCardia reports that CardiALLO is in a Phase 1/2 program for ischemic heart failure patients with active inflammation, using a dose‑escalation design followed by a randomized, double‑blind controlled study.
Clinical-stage product candidates
BioCardia reports three cardiac clinical‑stage product candidates in development built on these platforms:
- BCDA‑01 – CardiAMP autologous cell therapy in ischemic HFrEF: Supported by three completed clinical trials (Phase I TABMMI, Phase II TACHFT, and the Phase III CardiAMP HF trial) and an actively enrolling confirmatory Phase III CardiAMP HF II trial. The company highlights consistent safety and patient benefit signals across studies, particularly in patients with elevated biomarkers of heart stress, including reduced fatal and nonfatal major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), improved quality of life measures, and favorable echocardiographic heart function measures compared to controls. The primary composite endpoint in CardiAMP HF was not met in the overall population, which BioCardia attributes to potential confounding of an effort‑based measure, but the company reports statistically significant efficacy in a prespecified subgroup with elevated NTproBNP.
- BCDA‑02 – CardiAMP autologous cell therapy in chronic myocardial ischemia with refractory angina: In an open‑label roll‑in cohort of the CardiAMP Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Trial, BioCardia states that patients showed increased exercise tolerance and substantial reductions in angina episodes at six months compared to baseline, with the therapy well tolerated and no treatment‑emergent major adverse cardiac events reported. All patients in this cohort were on guideline‑directed medical therapy.
- BCDA‑03 – CardiALLO allogeneic MSC cell therapy in ischemic heart failure: The company describes a Phase 1/2 program including a 3+3 roll‑in dose escalation up to 200 million cells followed by a randomized controlled study. BioCardia reports completion of the low‑dose cohort with no treatment‑emergent adverse events, arrhythmias, rejection, or allergic responses, and notes that an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended continuation of the study as designed.
Enabling device and imaging platforms
BioCardia emphasizes that its cell therapies are enabled by proprietary delivery and navigation technologies. The Helix transendocardial biotherapeutic delivery system is described as a therapeutic‑enabling platform for minimally invasive, targeted delivery of biologic agents to the heart. It underlies the BCDA‑01, BCDA‑02, and BCDA‑03 programs. The company reports that it has completed a comprehensive update to the Helix system’s Master File and is preparing a De Novo 510(k) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on clinical trial performance.
The Morph vascular navigation platform is identified as another enabling technology used with Helix. Company disclosures also reference the Heart3D fusion imaging platform, which integrates MRI or CT imaging with multiple real‑time X‑ray views. BioCardia reports that Heart3D has performed well in preclinical settings and has supported intramyocardial delivery procedures in a timeframe the company characterizes as efficient.
Regulatory and geographic context
BioCardia describes itself as a global leader in cellular and cell‑derived therapeutics for cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. The company reports ongoing regulatory interactions in multiple jurisdictions. In the United States, CardiAMP Cell Therapy for heart failure has FDA Breakthrough designation, and BioCardia has referenced plans and interactions related to approvability discussions for the CardiAMP system and De Novo 510(k) submission for the Helix transendocardial delivery catheter.
In Japan, BioCardia has disclosed a series of preliminary clinical consultations with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) regarding CardiAMP Cell Therapy for HFrEF. The company reports that, following its third preliminary consultation, PMDA indicated that BioCardia may advance to formal clinical consultation on the acceptability of existing clinical data for a potential application for approval. BioCardia states that, should PMDA agree in formal consultation that the available data provide sufficient evidence of safety and efficacy, it would be able to file for regulatory approval in Japan.
Clinical evidence and trial design features
Across its programs, BioCardia emphasizes several recurring clinical themes. For CardiAMP in ischemic HFrEF, the company highlights:
- Use of transendocardial delivery of bone marrow‑derived cells in a minimally invasive catheter‑based procedure.
- Primary and composite endpoints that include all‑cause death, nonfatal major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, six‑minute walk distance, and validated quality‑of‑life measures.
- Subgroup analyses focusing on patients with elevated NTproBNP, where BioCardia reports statistically significant composite efficacy outcomes and improved left ventricular systolic and diastolic volume measures at 24 months compared to controls.
The company also notes that CardiAMP HF II is designed as a 250‑patient, randomized, multicenter, procedure placebo‑controlled study in patients with ischemic HFrEF on guideline‑directed medical therapy and elevated NTproBNP, using a composite primary outcome similar to the prior CardiAMP HF trial.
Corporate governance and listing status
BioCardia is incorporated in Delaware and files periodic reports, proxy statements, and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A definitive proxy statement (DEF 14A) describes matters such as director elections, amendments to the company’s equity incentive plan, auditor ratification, and advisory votes on executive compensation for an annual meeting of stockholders.
The company has disclosed prior communications with Nasdaq regarding compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement under Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). Following a series of financings and equity offerings, BioCardia reported that it believes it regained compliance with this requirement and subsequently received formal written notice from Nasdaq that it had regained compliance with the equity rule, allowing its common stock to continue trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the BCDA symbol.
Partnerships and biotherapeutic delivery
In addition to its internal programs, BioCardia states that it selectively partners on biotherapeutic delivery with peers developing biologic therapies. The company positions its Helix and Morph platforms, and the emerging Heart3D imaging platform, as tools that can support targeted cardiac delivery of biologic agents beyond its own cell therapy candidates.
Risk and forward‑looking considerations
Company communications emphasize that its therapies are investigational and subject to regulatory review. BioCardia highlights risks related to clinical trial enrollment, regulatory approvals, funding needs, and broader market conditions. Forward‑looking statements in its press releases and SEC filings reference uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and the possibility that anticipated milestones or regulatory outcomes may not occur as expected. Investors reviewing BCDA stock and BioCardia’s business are directed in company materials to the risk factor discussions in its annual reports and other SEC filings.