FDA Approves Edwards Lifesciences' SAPIEN M3 Mitral Valve Replacement System as First Transseptal Transcatheter Therapy

Key Terms

transseptal medical

Transseptal describes a medical approach that passes through a septum, the wall separating two heart chambers, to reach the left side of the heart from the right. For investors, it signals procedures, devices or approvals tied to minimally invasive heart treatments—think of using a short doorway through an interior wall rather than going around the building—which can affect demand for specialized catheters, training and regulatory clearance timelines.

transcatheter medical

Transcatheter describes medical procedures or devices delivered through a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that is threaded through blood vessels or small body openings to reach the heart or other organs without open surgery. It matters to investors because transcatheter approaches enable faster recovery, shorter hospital stays and larger patient pools for treatments that once required major operations, which can expand market demand and affect device and hospital revenues.

mitral regurgitation medical

Mitral regurgitation is a heart condition where the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the chamber it came from, like a pump with a worn seal or a door that won’t fully shut. It matters to investors because its severity creates demand for medical devices, drugs, diagnostics and follow-up care; changes in treatment options, reimbursement or clinical outcomes can materially affect healthcare company revenues and valuations.

percutaneous medical

Percutaneous describes medical procedures or delivery methods that reach internal organs or tissues by passing through the skin — for example with needles, catheters or small tubes — instead of opening the body with large incisions. For investors it matters because percutaneous approaches are generally less invasive, often mean lower hospital time, quicker recovery and smaller device footprints, which can broaden market adoption and affect regulatory and reimbursement outlooks.

pivotal trial medical

A pivotal trial is a key test of a new medicine or treatment to see if it works and is safe enough to be approved by health authorities. It's like a final exam for a new product, and passing it is essential for bringing the treatment to the public.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) today announced the company’s SAPIEN M3 mitral valve replacement system is the first transcatheter therapy utilizing a transseptal approach to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). The SAPIEN M3 transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) system is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic moderate-to-severe or severe MR in patients who are deemed unsuitable for surgery or transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) therapy by a multidisciplinary heart team. It is also indicated for the treatment of symptomatic mitral valve dysfunction (moderate-to-severe or severe MR, severe mitral stenosis (MS), or moderate MR with moderate MS) associated with mitral annular calcification (MAC) in patients who are deemed unsuitable for surgery or TEER therapy by a multidisciplinary heart team.

Edwards Lifesciences' SAPIEN M3 Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement System

“Mitral regurgitation is very common among valvular heart diseases, and these patients often present with debilitating symptoms that are life-threatening and significantly diminish their quality-of-life. Up to this point, many patients were unsuitable for available treatment options, leaving the vast majority untreated and suffering,” said David Daniels, M.D., Sutter West Bay Medical Group cardiologist and structural heart section chief of Sutter’s Heart & Vascular Service Line. “The SAPIEN M3 system’s ability to provide a fully percutaneous mitral valve replacement that safely delivers near elimination of significant mitral regurgitation and meaningfully improves their symptoms is a game-changer for these patients.”

The SAPIEN M3 TMVR procedure involves two steps: dock delivery followed by valve delivery, completely replacing the mitral valve. Both the dock and the valve are delivered through a percutaneous, 29F outer diameter steerable guide sheath inserted through the femoral vein.

One-year data from the ENCIRCLE single-arm pivotal trial was presented at TCT on October 27, 2025, and was simultaneously published in The Lancet. The trial achieved all primary and secondary endpoints for safety and effectiveness in the trial’s main cohort (299 patients unsuitable for other treatment options), achieving significant MR elimination (95.7% MR ≤ 0/1+) and meaningful improvements in symptoms and quality-of-life.

"Over our more than 65-year history, Edwards has continued to push the boundaries of structural heart innovation, and today, with the addition of mitral replacement to our portfolio of FDA-approved transcatheter therapies that already includes mitral repair, we are expanding the treatable patient population in the US,” said Daveen Chopra, Edwards’ corporate vice president, transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies. “Edwards is once again transforming care for patients with the SAPIEN M3 system, which is built on the foundation of the proven SAPIEN platform and is supported by positive one-year ENCIRCLE pivotal trial data.”

The SAPIEN M3 system received CE Mark in April 2025, making it the world’s first approved transfemoral transcatheter mitral valve replacement system. Edwards’ portfolio of FDA-approved transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies includes the PASCAL Precision mitral valve repair system and the EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement system.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the leading global structural heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. Through breakthrough technologies, world-class evidence and partnerships with clinicians and healthcare stakeholders, our employees are inspired by our patient-focused culture to deliver life-changing innovations to those who need them most. Discover more at www.edwards.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Chopra and statements regarding expected product benefits, including near elimination of significant mitral regurgitation, improvement of symptoms, transforming care for patients and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors as detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at Edwards.com.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, ENCIRCLE, EVOQUE, PASCAL, PASCAL Precision, SAPIEN, and SAPIEN M3 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Media Contact: Loree Bowen, 714-403-2475

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Source: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation