WL Gore & Associates—Gore—has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Conformal Medical, developer of the CLAAS AcuFORM system, a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) technology. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
“The investigational CLAAS AcuFORM system represents the kind of transformative, science-driven innovation that reflects our long-term commitment to improving patient care,” said Bret Snyder, board chair and chief executive officer (CEO) of Gore. “It is an ideal fit with our endovascular portfolio and a strong complement to our existing cardiac products. As a privately held company founded on scientific innovation, Gore continues to thoughtfully pursue opportunities and partnerships that expand our ability to improve lives through the work of all our businesses, including expanding our ability to serve clinicians and improve patient outcomes.”
The investigational Conformal CLAAS AcuFORM system features a nitinol endoskeleton with a proprietary foam matrix implant designed to conform to a broader range of LAA anatomies with fewer sizes. Designed in two sizes, the device has the potential to transform LAAO into a same-day procedure, moving clinical practice away from general anaesthesia and overnight hospitalisations, a Gore press release states.
The investigational CLAAS AcuFORM system is currently in clinical testing and not available for commercial use.
LAAO is a one-time procedure for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) that aims to reduce the risk of stroke-causing blood clots forming in the LAA and eliminate the need for long-term daily oral anticoagulant therapy.
This acquisition advances Gore’s expansion into adjacent endovascular treatments, and reflects the company’s long-term commitment to develop and invest in breakthrough medical technologies, the company also says in its recent release.
“We are pleased to join forces with a partner that reflects our belief that the investigational CLAAS AcuFORM device can prove to be a transformative solution for stroke prevention. Our stakeholders will realise the value of this partnership as we bring this therapy through the clinical and regulatory process, and eventually make it available to patients worldwide,” said James Reinstein, president and CEO of Conformal. “This partnership combines Conformal’s deep expertise in LAAO with Gore’s world-class capabilities in technology development, distribution and operations. It will enable us to leverage Gore’s global presence, accelerating our mission of shaping the future of stroke prevention.”
