Partnership

Berlin Heart AG

Business activities

Berlin Heart AG was founded towards the end of 1996 as a company operating in the field of medical technology. It is now a leading supplier, developer and manufacturer of cardiac assist and circulatory support systems - systems which are now revolutionising heart disease therapy.
Thanks to its many years of clinical experience and its market edge in Germany and the rest of Europe, Berlin Heart has succeeded in establishing an excellent standing in a highly-specialised domain, giving the company access to a market potential of 5.6 billion US$ world-wide.
As the world’s only supplier of comprehensive modular solutions, Berlin Heart will also establish a leading position on international markets. Working in close cooperation with the German Heart Center (Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin - DHZB), under the direction of Prof. Dr. Roland Hetzer, the company is currently developing the next generation of implantable cardiac assist systems. These will provide the company with considerable additional potential in related therapy fields.

The company’s product portfolio includes the extracorporeal cardiac assist system “Berlin Heart EXCOR”, which came into use in 1987, as well as the two implantable systems “Berlin Heart INCOR I (axial)” and “Berlin Heart INCOR II (pulse)”, both of which are still undergoing development. The new products are scheduled for market launch in 2002 (INCOR I) and 2003 (INCOR II). Market entry in the USA is scheduled for the year 2004 after FDA approval has been obtained. FDA approval for the EXCOR-System (paediatric applications) is expected as early as the beginning of 2002.
Berlin Heart operates in an oligopolitically structured market environment shared by five relevant suppliers. The market is characterised by high barriers of entry and long development times.
The products are marketed directly inside Germany. A widespread distributor network has been established in Europe and overseas. Operating from locations near to the customers, specially selected distributors have developed excellent local contacts and have set up a significant medical network.