AtaCor Medical Announces First Patient Treated Globally in its ALARION-EV Pivotal Trial
PR Newswire
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., July 7, 2026
Study will evaluate AtaCor's investigational Atala™ lead in conjunction with Abbott's investigational EV-ICD pulse generatorStudy will evaluate a novel parasternal extravascular ICD approach for the treatment of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmiasSAN CLEMENTE, Calif., July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AtaCor Medical, Inc., a privately-held medical device company focused on transforming cardiac rhythm management, announced today the enrollment of the first patient in the company's ALARION-EV study (NCT07324031). The trial evaluates an investigational next-generation parasternal extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) system featuring AtaCor's Atala™ lead in combination with an EV-ICD pulse generator developed by Abbott in patients who are indicated for a standard ICD but do not require chronic pacing therapy for slow heart rhythms.
"Arrhythmia Research Group is excited to participate in the ALARION-EV study, and we are pleased to contribute to the evaluation of this technology," commented Devi G. Nair, MD, FACC, FHRS, Chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Research at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the first global site to enroll a patient in the trial. "AtaCor's investigational extravascular ICD solution uses a novel parasternal lead delivery and is designed to allow physicians to deliver necessary antitachycardia pacing and shock therapies while avoiding the vascular and cardiac complications associated with traditional transvenous ICD systems."The ALARION-EV trial is a prospective, multi-center, single-arm study that will enroll up to 280 patients across as many as 40 sites in the United States and the Netherlands. The AtaCor-sponsored study aims to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational parasternal EV-ICD System through at least six months of follow-up, with collected data to support a future premarket approval (PMA) submission.While ICDs are a cornerstone therapy for preventing sudden cardiac death in patients with ventricular arrhythmias, traditional systems require leads to be placed inside the heart, which can lead to vascular injury, lead fractures, malfunctions, and infections. The novel design of AtaCor's investigational Atala™ lead allows implantation through a small left parasternal incision, with the lead positioned through a rib space and electrodes placed against the pericardium, outside of the heart and vasculature. Abbott's investigational EV-ICD pulse generator can be placed in either a lateral or pectoral device pocket, which could offer a new option for EV-ICD systems. This unique investigational approach is designed to deliver defibrillation and antitachycardia pacing, obviating long-standing transvenous lead management considerations and reducing the need for complex revisions associated with leads placed through veins and across cardiac structures."This clinical milestone is a significant step forward in AtaCor's mission to transform cardiac rhythm management. The successful treatment of our first patient in the ALARION-EV trial reflects the strength of our innovation, as well as the dedication of our teams and clinical partners," commented Rick Sanghera, AtaCor's CEO. "We look forward to building on this initial momentum and remain committed to advancing these extravascular therapies to improve patient outcomes and drive meaningful evolution in cardiac care."The AtaCor-Abbott parasternal EV-ICD system, including the Atala™ lead and EV-ICD pulse generator, is under development, is limited exclusively for investigational use and is not approved for sale in any geography.About AtaCor Medical:AtaCor Medical is transforming the cardiac rhythm management industry with its proprietary Atala™ lead. The novel design provides the therapeutic capabilities of traditional implantable defibrillators, including defibrillation and antitachycardia pacing, without placing hardware inside the heart or vascular system. AtaCor's technology both preserves future cardiac treatment options and overcomes key limitations of existing ICD systems.AtaCor's venture investors include Arboretum Ventures, Broadview Ventures, Longview Ventures, Hatteras Venture Partners, Catalyst Health Ventures, and BayMed Venture Partners.For more information, please visit www.atacor.com.






