CytoSorbents Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSO), a leader in the treatment of life-threatening conditions in the intensive care unit and cardiac surgery using blood purification via its proprietary polymer adsorption technology, announced that the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) has approved national reimbursement for CytoSorb® in certain cardiac surgery indications that is expected to take effect in 2023.

Specifically, the Hospital Technologies Committee of the Israeli MoH has approved national CytoSorb reimbursement, also known as “addition to the Healthcare Basket,” for the following indications:

• Intraoperative treatment for urgent or emergency cardiac surgery in patients treated with ticagrelor or rivaroxaban
• Intraoperative treatment during cardiac surgery in patients with acute infective endocarditis
• Intraoperative treatment during surgery for correction of aortic dissection

With its decision, the Committee recognizes the importance and value of CytoSorb to remove a variety of antithrombotic drugs and inflammatory mediators intraoperatively during cardiac surgery.  Once the policy revision is completed, public hospitals are expected to receive reimbursement for CytoSorb for these applications.

Christian Steiner, M.D., Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of CytoSorbents, stated, “Israel has one of the highest quality and advanced healthcare systems in the world, strengthened by its leadership in adopting innovative medical technologies.  We are pleased that the Ministry of Health recognizes the benefits of intraoperative CytoSorb use in cardiac surgery and has approved national reimbursement.”

Israel has a population of approximately 9 million people, all of whom are covered by universal health insurance. Annually, the country spends about 7.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare.   Israel spends an estimated $2.4 billion annually on medical devices, with imports accounting for approximately 65% of the medical device market.  According to the Israel Heart Society, heart disease is the second leading cause of death in the country.  More than 4,000 heart surgeries are performed in Israel each year.