Mitral Valve DiseaseEXPLORE MRaceNCT06113354
EXPLORE MRace (BR): Early Feasibility Experience of Posterior Leaflet Restoration to Reduce Mitral Regurgitation Using the MRace Implant
A study testing Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System) in people with Mitral Valve Disease, run by Polares Medical SA at 2 sites in Brazil.
Trial summary
An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Mitral Valve Disease
- What is being tested?
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System)
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesBrazil
- Study dates
- 8 Apr 2024to Dec 2032
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years of age or older
- Greater than moderate mitral regurgitation (Grade 3+ or higher) as confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) within 90 days prior to study procedure
- Patient must present with an STS Score less than 10%
- High surgical risk for conventional mitral repair or replacement due to morphological criteria (e.g. leaflet or annulus calcifications), but operable, as assessed by the local heart team comprised of a cardiac surgeon experienced in mitral valve surgery and a cardiologist experienced in treating mitral valve disease and heart failure
- New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class III or IV
- Patient willing to participate in study and provide signed IRB/EC-approved informed consent
- Treating physician and patient agree that patient is able to return for all required post-procedure follow-up visits
Who cannot join
- Severe tricuspid regurgitation
- Severe aortic stenosis or insufficiency
- Severe mitral annulus calcification
- Diseased mitral anterior leaflet such as flail / prolapse/ heavy calcification
- Implanted vena cava filter
- Femoral veins with severe angulation and calcification
Show all 31Show fewer
- Contraindication for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or MDCT scan
- Active infection or endocarditis
- Previous mitral valve surgery
- Prior orthotopic heart transplantation
- Pulmonary artery systolic hypertension > 70mmHg
- Evidence of intra-cardiac, inferior vena cava (IVC) or femoral venous thrombus
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 30%
- Implant or revision of any pacing device < 30 days prior to intervention
- Symptomatic coronary artery disease treated < 30 days prior to study procedure
- Myocardial infarction requiring intervention < 30 days prior to study procedure
- Infiltrative cardiomyopathies (e.g., amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis), hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathies, and constrictive pericarditis
- Active peptic ulcer or upper gastrointestinal bleeding < 90 days prior to study procedure
- Stroke < 180 days prior to study procedure
- Severe renal insufficiency (creatinine > 3.0 mg/dL) or patient requiring dialysis
- Cardiogenic shock at time of enrolment
- Hemodynamic instability requiring inotropic support or mechanical heart assistance
- Concurrent medical condition with a life expectancy of less than 2 years
- Pregnancy at time of enrolment
- History of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy or leukopenia (WBC < 3,000 mcL) or acute anemia (Hb < 9 g/dL) or thrombocytopenia (platelets < 50,000 cells mcL)
- Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to aspirin, heparin, ticlopidine or clopidogrel, nitinol, tantalum or allergy to contrast agents that cannot be pre-medicated
- Severe dementia or lack of capacity due to conditions that result in either inability to provide informed consent for the trial/procedure, prevent independent lifestyle outside of a chronic care facility, or will fundamentally complicate rehabilitation from the procedure or compliance with follow-up assessments
- Emergency situations
- Company employees or their immediate family members
- Patient is under guardianship
- Patient is participating in another clinical study for which follow-up is currently ongoing
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Brazil2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Fundação Universitaria de Cardiologia
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90620-001
Rogerio Leite, MD, rsl.sarmento@gmail.com
Roberio Leite, MD
- Recruiting
InCor - Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP
São Paulo, São Paulo, 05403-900
Alexandre Abizaid, MD
Fabio Sandoli de Brito, MD
About this study
Official title: Early Feasibility Experience of Posterior Leaflet Restoration to Reduce Mitral Regurgitation Using the MRace Implant Brazil (EXPLORE MRace - BR)
An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. The study is a single-arm registry with the last follow-up visit at 5 years post-intervention. The study will enroll up to 10 patients at one (1) center in Brazil.
Read the detailed description
Percutaneous approaches to treat MR promise to provide a sufficient reduction in MR without the risks typically associated with open heart surgery. Furthermore there is an unmet clinical need for patients with severe MR who are refused or denied surgery due to high risk. Percutaneous therapy provides a novel alternative treatment option for these patients with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality over and above current medical therapy. The Polares Medical MRace Implant and Delivery System is a catheter-based technology designed to permanently implant a prosthesis using a transvenous / transseptal approach to augment the posterior mitral valve leaflet and improve coaptation with the anterior leaflet. Approved edge-to-edge repair has already been shown to be a viable alternative for high risk MR patients. However treatment with these devices is limited to specific anatomies and often requires multiple devices which increases clinical risk, adds to procedural time, and can result in residual MR. The MRace Implant and Delivery System has been designed to overcome and mitigate some of these shortfalls.
- Conditions
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Being tested
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System)Device
The MRace Implant is placed mitral valve posterior annulus using its delivery system via femoral vein access and a transeptal puncture
Other Names:
TMVr
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MRace Arm | Experimental | Single-arm study of MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation All enrolled patients will receive the study device Receives: Device: Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Incidence of all-cause mortality following treatment with the MRace Implant and Delivery System
Primary safety outcome
Measured: 30-days follow-up
Incidence of change from severe mitral regurgitation at baseline (Grade 3+ or more) to moderate or less mitral regurgitation (Grade 2+ or less) following treatment with the MRace Implant and Delivery System as evaluated by 2D TTE
Primary performance endpoint
Measured: 30-days follow-up
Secondary outcomes (5)
Rate of major safety events as defined by MVARC2 definitions
Secondary safety endpoint
Measured: Follow-up at 30 days, at 6 and 12 months, and at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years
Technical success rate per MVARC2 definitions
All of the following must be present for technical success:
Absence of procedure mortality Successful access, delivery and retrieval of investigation delivery system Successful deployment and correct positioning of intended implant(s) Freedom from emergency surgery/re-intervention related to device or access procedure
Measured: Technical success is measured immediately following the procedure
Procedure success rate per MVARC2 definitions
Both of the following must be present for procedure success:
Device success
Absence of major device or procedure-related serious adverse events as below:
Death Stroke Life-threatening bleed Major vascular complication Major cardiac structural complication Stage 2 or 3 AKI MI or coronary ischemia requiring PCI or CABG Shock, heart or respiratory failure requiring IV vasopressors, mechanical intervention or prolonged intubation Valve-related dysfunction, migration, thrombosis, or other complication requiring surgery or repeat intervention
Measured: Procedure success is measured at 30 days follow-up
Device success rate per MVARC 2 definitions
All of the following must be present for device success:
Absence of procedure mortality or stroke Proper placement and positioning of device Freedom from unplanned re-intervention related to device or access procedure
Continued intended safety and performance of the device as below:
No evidence of structural or functional failure No device technical failure issues/complications MR reduction to moderate or less without stenosis
Measured: Device success is measured at 30 days, at 6 and 12 months, and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years follow-up
Patient success rate per MVARC2 definitions
All of the following must be present for patient success:
Device success Patient returned to pre-procedure setting No rehospitalization or reintervention for mitral regurgitation or heart failure • Functional improvement from baseline by one or more NYHA class 6MWT improvement from baseline by 50 metres or more
Measured: Patient success is measured at 12 months follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Nov 2023
- Study start8 Apr 2024
- Primary completionDec 2032 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2032 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mitral Valve DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single-arm registry
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Polares Medical SA
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Polares Medical, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Robin Eckert, Study director, Polares Medical
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06113354
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 202302
- Acronym
- EXPLORE MRace
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Oct 2023
- Last updated
- 1 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No: Clinical trial results will be shared with investigators once study is enrolled and trial data is prepared for presentation at a medical conference or for publication in a medical journal.
Publications
Schafer U, Abizaid A, Popma JJ, Guicciardi NA, Khairkhahan A, Campbell D, Bakall A, Gogorishvili I, Shaburishvili T, Chukhrukidze A, Feldt K, Sandoli de Brito F Jr. Posterior Leaflet Restoration for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: EXPLORE MR Results. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2026 Oct 31:S1936-8798(26)02917-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2026.10.013. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42967235
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Early Feasibility Experience of Posterior Leaflet Restoration to Reduce Mitral Regurgitation Using the MRace Implant Brazil (EXPLORE MRace - BR)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06113354
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EXPLORE MRace / 202302
- Conditions
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Polares Medical SAIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Collaborators
- Polares Medical, Inc.
- Study start
- 8 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2032 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2032 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. The study is a single-arm registry with the last follow-up visit at 5 years post-intervention. The study will enroll up to 10 patients at one (1) center in Brazil.
Detailed description
Percutaneous approaches to treat MR promise to provide a sufficient reduction in MR without the risks typically associated with open heart surgery. Furthermore there is an unmet clinical need for patients with severe MR who are refused or denied surgery due to high risk. Percutaneous therapy provides a novel alternative treatment option for these patients with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality over and above current medical therapy. The Polares Medical MRace Implant and Delivery System is a catheter-based technology designed to permanently implant a prosthesis using a transvenous / transseptal approach to augment the posterior mitral valve leaflet and improve coaptation with the anterior leaflet. Approved edge-to-edge repair has already been shown to be a viable alternative for high risk MR patients. However treatment with these devices is limited to specific anatomies and often requires multiple devices which increases clinical risk, adds to procedural time, and can result in residual MR. The MRace Implant and Delivery System has been designed to overcome and mitigate some of these shortfalls.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single-arm registry
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MRace Arm | Experimental | Device: Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System)Single-arm study of MRace Implant and Delivery System to treat severe mitral regurgitation All enrolled patients will receive the study device |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- 18 years of age or older
- Greater than moderate mitral regurgitation (Grade 3+ or higher) as confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) within 90 days prior to study procedure
- Patient must present with an STS Score less than 10%
- High surgical risk for conventional mitral repair or replacement due to morphological criteria (e.g. leaflet or annulus calcifications), but operable, as assessed by the local heart team comprised of a cardiac surgeon experienced in mitral valve surgery and a cardiologist experienced in treating mitral valve disease and heart failure
- New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class III or IV
Key exclusion criteria (31 listed)
- Severe tricuspid regurgitation
- Severe aortic stenosis or insufficiency
- Severe mitral annulus calcification
- Diseased mitral anterior leaflet such as flail / prolapse/ heavy calcification
- Implanted vena cava filter
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System)The MRace Implant is placed mitral valve posterior annulus using its delivery system via femoral vein access and a transeptal puncture Other Names: TMVr | Device | MRace Arm |
Primary outcome
Incidence of all-cause mortality following treatment with the MRace Implant and Delivery System
Time frame: 30-days follow-up
Primary safety outcome
Incidence of change from severe mitral regurgitation at baseline (Grade 3+ or more) to moderate or less mitral regurgitation (Grade 2+ or less) following treatment with the MRace Implant and Delivery System as evaluated by 2D TTE
Time frame: 30-days follow-up
Primary performance endpoint
5 secondary outcomes
Rate of major safety events as defined by MVARC2 definitions
Time frame: Follow-up at 30 days, at 6 and 12 months, and at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years
Technical success rate per MVARC2 definitions
Time frame: Technical success is measured immediately following the procedure
Procedure success rate per MVARC2 definitions
Time frame: Procedure success is measured at 30 days follow-up
Device success rate per MVARC 2 definitions
Time frame: Device success is measured at 30 days, at 6 and 12 months, and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years follow-up
Patient success rate per MVARC2 definitions
Time frame: Patient success is measured at 12 months follow-up
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Sep 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42967235Schafer U, Abizaid A, Popma JJ, Guicciardi NA, Khairkhahan A, Campbell D, Bakall A, Gogorishvili I, Shaburishvili T, Chukhrukidze A, Feldt K, Sandoli de Brito F Jr. Posterior Leaflet Restoration for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: EXPLORE MR Results. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2026 Oct 31:S1936-8798(26)02917-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2026.10.013. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Clinical trial results will be shared with investigators once study is enrolled and trial data is prepared for presentation at a medical conference or for publication in a medical journal.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Robin Eckert study director
Polares Medical
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transcatheter mitral valve repair (MRace Implant and Delivery System) in people with Mitral Valve Disease, run by Polares Medical SA at 2 sites in Brazil.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 31 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Brazil. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Kristine Orosz (+1 408 420 7446, korosz@polaresmedical.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Incidence of all-cause mortality following treatment with the MRace Implant and Delivery System (time frame: 30-days follow-up). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06113354, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Sep 2026.