October 13, 2017
Nuvaira CEO Dennis Wahr, MD, recalls getting caught up in the buzz surrounding “the angioplasty era” while he was still an intern. “There was great excitement about being able to treat patients minimally and invasively,” and this idea is what led him to become an interventional cardiologist.
Dr. Wahr, who scored two winning exits in the interventional cardiovascular space, now sees a similar level of anticipation around interventional pulmonology. The potential led him to take the CEO post at Nuvaira, which is developing a one-time procedure to help COPD patients breath more easily.
In this week’s Medtech Talk podcast, Dr. Wahr shares clinical updates from Nuvaira (formerly Holaira; he explains the reason why the name change in the podcast).
Dr. Wahr says the therapy has made great strides since the presentation of data at the European Respiratory Society meeting in the fall of 2014.
Nuvaira’s Lung Denervation System involves having an interventionalist pass a dNerva™ Dual Cooled Radiofrequency Catheter through a bronchoscope into the lungs to deliver radiofrequency energy to nerves along the airway. The treatment should relax the airway and lead to a decrease in mucus production, making breathing easier. The procedure only takes an hour from start to finish.
Dr. Wahr admits that although parallels exist between the specialties, “the clinical development program required in pulmonary is more sophisticated and challenging” than cardiology because of how many regulatory and clinical investigation bars have been raised.
But when he first looked at this new technology, it literally sent tingles down his spine. “I thought that this technology had the potential to be for interventional pulmonary what the angioplasty balloon was for cardiology.”
Now, the company is employing a strategy Dr. Wahr used at Velocimed and Lutonix, rolling out a “targeted” commercial launch in Europe that he feels will be supported by ongoing clinical trials. Dr. Wahr explains why Nuvaira is managing this commercial launch differently than other companies might.
He also gives a heads up on when the company will be ready to raise another round of financing, which would hopefully be its last round before projected commercialization.
Dennis Wahr, MD
President & CEO
Nuvaira
Dennis Wahr, MD joined Nuvaira in September 2012, with a unique background in serial medical device development, clinical evaluation and commercialization experience.
Prior to joining Nuvaira, Dr. Wahr co-founded Lutonix in 2007 and served as its President and CEO until CR Bard acquired the company in December 2011. Preceding its acquisition, Lutonix developed a unique drug coated balloon angioplasty technology for the treatment and prevention of vascular stenosis caused by atherosclerosis. Prior to Lutonix, Dr. Wahr co-founded Velocimed in 2001, and served as its President and CEO until its acquisition by St. Jude Medical in 2005.
As a company CEO, Dr. Wahr has wide-ranging experience with both the European regulatory authorities and the US FDA. His companies have sponsored 9 clinical trials involving more than 1500 patients leading to approvals for 4 unique and innovative medical products.
Dr. Wahr has served on the board of directors of several medical device companies including Accumetrics, IDev, Velocimed and Lutonix, and he currently serves as chairman of the board for Intact Vascular. Additionally, Dr. Wahr spent two years as a Managing Director with RiverVest Ventures focusing on capital investments in emerging medical technology companies.
Dr. Wahr received a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College and his Medical Degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He did a fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco and is currently board certified in interventional cardiology. He spent more than 14 years in clinical practice and served as the Chief of Cardiology at the Michigan Heart and Vascular Institute in Ann Arbor, MI prior to launching his entrepreneurial career.
