The Australian government announced that it is providing a grant of AUD50 million ($33 million) to the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program (AHFP). This program hopes to create an advanced “Total Artificial Heart” by integrating several cutting-edge cardiac technologies, with the goal to halve the number of deaths from heart failure. The grant demonstrates the importance of artificial heart research and its role in treating heart failure, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData forecasts, the cardiovascular devices market’s value was approximately $56.9 billion in 2022 and is set register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% between 2022 and 2027. GlobalData’s Clinical Trials database reveals that trials for the Total Artificial Heart are ongoing and are predicted to complete in 2025. The device is expected to reach the market in the same year.

David Beauchamp, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments “Growth in the cardiovascular device market is driven by factors that include research and development (R&D) into new technologies, such as those being developed by the AHFP. The program is currently developing technologies such as left ventricular access devices, advanced heart pumps, and the Total Artificial Heart, all of which could provide new tools for the treatment of heart failure.”

Heart failure is a worldwide problem, with over 64 million cases being reported around the globe, according to the European Society of Cardiology. The disease is characterized by the weakening of the heart’s muscles and an inability of the heart to pump blood properly. This can be life-threatening and, in some cases, requires a heart transplant. However, there are rarely, if ever, enough donor hearts to meet the demand. An artificial heart, such as the one in development by the AHFP, would reduce the load.

Beauchamp concludes: “Devices such as the Total Artificial Heart hope to reduce the burden on healthcare systems caused by heart failure and to lessen the reliance on donor hearts that these systems currently face. Among patients, the Total Artificial Heart promises to improve quality of life, life expectancy, and productivity. If successful, the Total Artificial Heart should prove to be an exciting new option in the treatment of heart failure.”