(Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued to block Edwards Lifesciences Corp’s acquisition of JenaValve Technology Inc, saying in a lawsuit filed in Washington on Wednesday the merger would decrease competition in the market for a device meant to treat a potentially fatal heart condition.
Edwards and JenaValve are the only two companies in the U.S. currently conducting clinical trials on transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices, which are used to treat a condition where the heart’s aortic valve does not close properly, the FTC said in its lawsuit.
A spokesperson for Edwards did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Edwards announced the deal in July 2024, along with its acquisition of another heart valve maker, Endotronix. The deals, together valued at approximately $1.2 billion, were aimed at expanding its portfolio of structural heart disease treatments.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy;)
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