New heart valve technology brings fresh competition to TAVI market

A Sydney hospital has performed the first procedure using Meril’s next-generation heart valve technology, marking the India-based medtech company’s entry into the Australian market.

Meril’s launch is centred on the Myval Octacor transcatheter heart valve (THV) system, a minimally invasive technology designed for patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The balloon-expandable valve incorporates intermediate sizes, giving clinicians greater flexibility in matching valve dimensions to individual patient anatomy.

“The introduction of the Myval Octacor THV System provides Australian clinicians with another important treatment option for patients undergoing TAVI,” said A/Professor David Roy, Interventional Cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. “Having access to dedicated intermediate valve sizes gives us greater flexibility when selecting the most appropriate valve for an individual patient’s anatomy, which is an important consideration in achieving the best possible procedural outcome. It is encouraging to see Australian patients now benefiting from technologies that continue to advance the precision of minimally invasive structural heart interventions.”

The importance of valve sizing was highlighted by clinical evidence from the international LANDMARK trial, in which almost one in every two patients (48%) required an intermediate valve size. The finding points to a potential gap in conventional valve options and reinforces the role of anatomical fit in TAVI procedures.

Myval Octacor has demonstrated non-inferiority to both the Sapien 3/S3 Ultra devices from Edwards Lifesciences and the Evolut devices from Medtronic at 30-day and one-year follow-up in the LANDMARK and COMPARE-TAVI randomised trials. However, the trials pooled different generations within the respective valve series and therefore did not constitute a direct comparison exclusively between the latest versions of the devices.

For Meril, the Australian launch represents another milestone in its international expansion.

“Our expansion into Australia reflects Meril’s commitment to working alongside healthcare professionals to deliver innovative technologies that support better patient outcomes,” stated Manish Deshmukh, Chief Marketing Officer at Meril. “As healthcare systems globally respond to ageing populations and increasing demand, innovation will play an important role in the future of patient care.”

The launch comes as demand for minimally invasive structural heart interventions is expected to grow alongside Australia’s ageing population. More than 1.3 million Australians are living with heart, stroke or vascular disease, while cardiovascular disease accounts for almost one in four deaths nationally. The incidence of severe aortic stenosis, a progressive narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve that can become life-threatening if left untreated, is expected to increase, driving greater demand for procedures such as TAVI.

Mathew Cotta, Country Manager of Meril in Australia and New Zealand, said establishing a local presence would enable Meril to build closer relationships with clinicians and hospitals while supporting access to its technologies.

“Australia is an important market for Meril. Establishing a local presence allows us to work more closely with clinicians and hospital partners, supporting access to innovative technologies and helping improve outcomes for Australian patients,” said Cotta.

The Myval Octacor received Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) inclusion in May 2026. Meril is now pursuing broader uptake across public hospitals, while the company has submitted a Prescribed List (PL) application seeking funding access for the technology in private hospitals.

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