Welcome to Meril Life - A Global MedTech Company

Meril Life is a global medical device manufacturer offering best in class medical devices, Healthcare solutions worldwide

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Decrypting Covid19: All We Know About the Novel Coronavirus so far.

What started off as a virus contained to one country has today become a concern for the whole world. Today, doctors, researchers and other healthcare workers are relentlessly pursuing every effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in whichever way they can.

As time passes, we have found out a few characteristic traits of the novel coronavirus, and this is helping us trace and deal with the disease in a much better way. In a recently held session by by  Dr. Manuj Wadhwa, Chairman and ED at Ivy Elite Institute of Orthopedics & Joint Replacement, he spoke about the various ways through which doctors can identity the disease. While doctors are obviously following these protocols, it is good for everyone to know the basics of the disease to help steer clear of it in the near future.

What is it that makes Covid-19 a ‘novel’ disease? The term ‘coronavirus’ as a whole refers to a family of various pathogens that can cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. When a new strain that has previously not been identified in humans appears, it becomes known as a ‘Novel’ Coronavirus (nCOV). The strain that has now been named Covid-19 is unique in nature. Structurally, it comprises of a nucleoprotein at its center, which is surrounded by a layer of fat that has protein crowns on it. Genetically, it is related to the SARS virus that occurred in 2003, but both the diseases are unique in their own ways.

Washing Your Hands Off It As we mentioned earlier, the virus is surrounded by a layer of fat that keeps it protected. When you wash your hands vigorously with soap for 20 seconds, the fat layer starts to crack and thus, the virus has no chances of surviving on your hands.

The Spread Pattern – Factors & Facts By now, we all know that Covid-19 spreads because of coughing and sneezing. And that begets the question – is the disease airborne? Well, thankfully the virus can ONLY be spread by a human carrier. The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air. They quickly fall on floors or surfaces.

Now, because of their particular composition, they can live on these surfaces for a few hours or for a couple of days. The surface material, temperature and humidity are factors that come into play here. One thing that has been confirmed by doctors is that, contradictory to earlier opinion, Covid-19 does survive in temperatures over 25 degrees. Thus, just because it is hot and sunny outside doesn’t mean it is safe to step out just yet.

Read more at https://www.merillife.com/blog/in-the-news/decrypting-covid19-all-we-know-about-the-novel-coronavirus-so-far

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Meril creating Endless Possibilities at India Live 2020

Meril participated at 11th India Live 2020, Hotel Taj Palace, Delhi. The conference was attended by 1500 + national & international delegates. The faculty included top interventional cardiologists from across the globe who gathered under one roof to share their experience and knowledge.

The objective of the conference is to focus on "Interventional Cardiology: From Clinic to Cutting Edge". You will have the opportunity to listen to and discuss cutting edge research with leading experts in various fields of Interventional Cardiology. Scientific committee is working hard to draw a comprehensive innovative program covering all major advances in the ever-expanding field of cardiovascular diseases. The meeting will feature live case demonstrations that will be performed by internationally renowned operators from India and abroad. Targeted informative and educational presentation on various contemporary topics was delivered by thought leaders during this four-day educational activity.

In addition to the scientific sessions, the industry will be encouraged to display latest devices and present their viewpoint. You will also have an opportunity to hone your skill on Simulators. It was indeed a much differentiated conference for Meril in many years of India live. In total 250+ HCPs from India and abroad visited Meril Learning & Innovation Hub, which provided a wide range of learning initiatives including TAVR Hands-on mentice simulation, 3Mensio & CT Analysis, Myval TAVR wet-model hands-on, Virtual reality (VR) immersive experience of Myval TAVR cases.

Master Class sessions at Meril Learning & Innovation Hub included 6 well attended and scientifically immersive lecture presentations on TAVR and Complex PCI by a host of key opinion leaders like Dr. G. Sengotuvellu, Dr A. Mullasari, Dr D.S. Gambhir, Dr. Siva Kumar, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Dr. Anmol Sonawane & Dr B. Starcevic. An interactive touchscreen allowed HCPs to explore Meril Cardiovascular’ s innovation journey over the years, learning along the way about our cutting edge products through digital brochures and videos.

Meril Evening Symposium on 29th Feb was attended by over 200 delegates, who heard senior interventional cardiologists like Dr Ashok Seth, Dr A. Mullasari, Dr. Rajneesh Kapoor and Dr. Enric Domingo speak about latest in DES, Bioresorbable therapy, furthering the TAVR therapy in India and beyond. The 3 day event came to a conclusion with delivering packed flavour of eye opening sessions on cardio therapies.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/in-the-news/meril-creating-endless-possibilities-at-india-live-2020

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Headlines that make India proud through our strides in the field of med-tech and innovation

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in India since the 1990s. Over the last few decades, there have been multiple studies showing that the number of deaths caused by heart disease has only gone up since then. Recognising the need of the hour, Meril Life Sciences is the first Indian Medtech company to receive CE approval for the Myval Transcatheter Heart Valve and also for creating the world’s first 100 micron thin-strut bioresorbable vascular scaffold. As we continue to make headlines for these contributions to Medtech, let’s take a closer look at how our products reduce discomfort for patients and why we will continue making headlines that make our country proud.

What we did

A heart attack generally occurs when the flow of blood to your heart is blocked. This blockage is caused by a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances which form a clot inside your heart and disrupt blood flow. A popular method of treating this blockage is through the use of stents. A stent is a small mesh tube placed inside these blocked arteries. These stents then expand along with your aortic valve and help you restore regular blood flow. The drawback to this solution was that the stents available in the market were metallic stents, which, along with aiding recovery would also remain inside the heart as a permanent metal implant. Mr. Sanjeev Bhatt, Vice President Corporate Strategy, Meril Life Sciences, addressed this concern by explaining the MeRes 100 scaffold in further detail. He explained that the MeRes 100 uses a polymer with 100-micron thickness, which is almost half the width of a human hair. This ultra-thin scaffold is made from a polymer known as polylactide and is used to deliver drug-eluting stents that release medication to treat the blocked artery. This polymer not only releases medication into your arteries, they also fully degrade in 2-3 years, thus allowing the artery to heal naturally over time without further surgery.

How we did it

While the answer may seem simple now, 5 years ago, the question facing Dr. P.K Minocha, Director of Research at Meril Life Sciences looked as daunting as any. Is it possible to create a thinner strut stent, made of a polymer that degrades in three years, while still retaining the strength to fulfill its purpose of healing a blocked artery? To answer this question, the team working on the project ended up studying over 180 combinations of various polymers to narrow down their search to 12 desirable combinations. Work began by selecting one proprietary polymer blend as the material for this scaffold. Over 235,000 man-hours, coupled with millions of dollars of investment resulted in 18,000 prototypes, produced at various stages of development and bench testing. This is how they finally arrived at the now patented ultra-thin, bioresorbable stent.

The final obstacle

Even after the product had been created there was one final obstacle in the way, the safety and efficacy of this next-generation fully biodegradable scaffold had yet to be proven clinically. Various trials and clinical studies took place all across India, Brazil, Europe and Asia. Leading cardiologists from India and all across the world participated in these clinical studies. The first-year data from these studies showed zero scaffold thrombosis and virtually 100% strut coverage. These results stayed consistent over a testing period of about three years.

When we set out to create the next-generation biodegradable stent, which would benefit patients by strengthening their heart valve, the chances of success were slim. Apart from the wide array of medical devices which provide access to affordable and world-class healthcare for patients, the MeRes 100 and the Myval studies prove that Indian companies can not only produce world-class technology but can also innovate and advance patient care on a global scale. Staying true to our core tenet of adding more to life, Meril Life Sciences will continue to innovate and create new headlines to make India proud in the future.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/in-the-news/headlines-that-make-india-proud-through-our-strides-in-the-field-of-med-tech-and-innovation

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Why we are India’s leading cardiac implant company and what drives us to continue innovating

https://www.merillife.com/blog/medtech/why-we-are-indias-leading-cardiac-implant-company-and-what-drives-us-to-continue-innovatingWe have all witnessed medical technology in the world around us. From vaccinations to the plasters worn to correct fractures to even spectacles that improve our eyesight. All of these were once new and revolutionary ideas that have stood the test of time and given us solutions to long-standing medical dilemmas. These advances in healthcare solutions are what led to long-term sustainable improvement in the quality of human life. We at Meril Life Sciences know that with changing times the need for better equipment and advanced medical devices will continue to increase. To create such devices that will soon be the need of the hour, we work tirelessly and continually seek excellence in the field of medicine.

In today’s world, the leading cause of death in India and the world at large, are cardiovascular diseases. A study conducted by The Lancet shows that the prevalence of stroke and heart disease in India has almost doubled in the past 25 years. Heart disease and strokes together contribute to about 28.1% of total deaths in our country today. Some of the factors that contribute to these rising numbers are: A rise in sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, smoking habits, stressful lives, lack of sleep and many others. These factors have also led to a rise in coronary artery diseases in people from the age group of 25-35.

As the numbers show, heart disease is on the rise in all age groups and has now even begun to affect the youth. Meril understood the need for cardiovascular healthcare devices and began learning and innovating with stents and heart valve technology five years ago. Backed by clinical trials and reports from patients with over three years of use, Meril Life is proud to introduce the next generation fully bioresorbable vascular scaffold - MeRes100. With the ultra-thin 100-micron bioresorbable vascular scaffold, we created the world’s thinnest stent and paired it with a natural drug-eluting stent which degrades over time and allows the heart to resume normal function without requiring a stent.

This patented and indigenous technology created by India-based Meril Life Sciences has received both CDSCO & CE approval. Making it possible for us to provide the product to healthcare professionals all over the world. It has carved a niche for itself within the coronary stent space, especially in addressing the needs of a younger age group.

Meril Life Sciences is headquartered in India with a manpower of more than 4,000 employees, with the business currently being conducted in more than 100 countries. Our dedication towards research and development helps us chart a course to advanced healthcare solutions and is also reflected through our diverse range of products. Adhering to the highest quality standards in manufacturing, scientific communication and distribution, it is only natural that Meril Life Sciences is the leading cardiac implant company in India and will continue to strive for the same in the future.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/medtech/why-we-are-indias-leading-cardiac-implant-company-and-what-drives-us-to-continue-innovating

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Meril Life Sciences: Adding more to life

To an outsider, Meril Life Sciences is a young, India-based global medical device company. We design, innovate and provide medical devices to patients, doctors and distributors all over the world. And yet, simply digging deeper will show you real people, real lives and the core principles which paved the way to Meril Life Sciences becoming one of the leading medtech companies in the world. With a wide portfolio consisting of more than 140 products distributed across 100 plus countries, we deliver only the best and most advanced healthcare solutions. To get a better understanding of how we continue to innovate, inspire and tread new ground in the field of health and medicine, let us take a quick peek at some of our verticals.

Orthopaedics

Our journey into the field of orthopaedics began 10 years ago when we acquired Maxx Medical, an established US orthopaedic device company. With the expertise and support of world-renowned surgeons, we emerged as frontrunners in this segment, offering a diverse range of orthopaedic implants, from knee replacements to hip replacement to trauma along with revision portfolio. These devices are all developed using advanced design engineering technologies and extensive clinical experience to address the anatomical, physiological and lifestyle needs of today’s patients. These advanced designs and products allow our patients to achieve optimal high-flexion motion and restore their daily lives.

Vascular intervention

Our contributions to the global field of coronary artery diseases have already been discussed at length. Our team of talented and innovative engineers have created a varied range of devices such as drug-eluting stents, bioresorbable scaffolds, balloon catheters, peripheral vascular and transcatheter aortic valve replacement systems which help deal with coronary complications. These products are all backed by thorough clinical studies, patient feedback and a global team of scientific advisors. Our unique, top of the line medical devices are currently being used in over 100 countries worldwide.

Endosurgery

Meril Endosurgery is a one-stop solution for surgeons because of the extensive product portfolio we provide, comprising of absorbable & non-absorbable surgical sutures, tissue sealants, absorbable hemostats, intrauterine devices, energy devices and mechanical closure devices. These products, which are in use in more than 100 countries, are backed by a rich pipeline of products still undergoing research and development. Coupled with hands-on training sessions and surgical simulation services, the endosurgery vertical is an effective segment that provides patients with long term support and relief.

Along with the above three verticals, we also provide devices that aid diagnostics and ENT treatment. We believe that to deliver the latest and most-relevant medical equipment an ultra-modern manufacturing facility is a must. Our five verticals are all supported by a robust R&D foundry, responsible for the constant innovation and creation of better and more advanced healthcare devices. We at Meril Life Sciences exist to create best-in-class medical devices that help uplift the health of humankind and will continue to strive to reach this goal.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/about-us/meril-life-sciences-adding-more-to-life

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Meril Academy: The cutting edge in Healthcare education for Medical devices

With the global rise in internet usage and advances in communication and technology, humankind is learning faster than ever. We at Meril Life Sciences hope to bridge the gap between the rapid advances in technology and its impact on surgeries, by empowering healthcare professionals with the latest in the field of medicine. Through research and development, paired with novel, state-of-the-art clinical medical devices and contributions from various award-winning healthcare professionals, we pride ourselves on creating Meril Academy, which is a cutting edge training centre for healthcare professionals.

The tenets of Meril Academy

Meril Academy began by keeping in mind core tenets which we frequently refer to and keep updating as we touch greater heights on our journey. The Tenets behind Meril Academy are:

Vision: Transforming patient care through professional education.

Mission: Develop and enhance the skills of healthcare professionals for better surgical outcomes.

Goals: Engage 20,000 healthcare professionals globally by 2020.

Commitment: By partnering with healthcare professionals to advance surgical care, we can ensure that people live longer and healthier lives.

Revolutionary education centre

With our core tenets firmly in place, we deliver the best-in-class, in medical devices and healthcare education. At Meril academy, we encourage peer-to-peer learning by fostering a collegial environment that helps the advancement of knowledge. This allows healthcare professionals an opportunity to discuss the latest advancements in technology, along with getting an opportunity to test and practice on these technologies themselves. Our advanced structure covers a sprawling 200,000 square feet of area, with facilities that are on par with international standards.

An asset to healthcare professionals

Meril Academy is fit with sprawling auditoriums acoustically designed and fitted with the latest audiovisual technologies to allow for live telecasts from anywhere in the world. Other facilities such as the Meril simulation suite, which is a 3,000 square foot, one-of-its-kind simulation environment, that allows medical professionals to learn via trial and error in a controlled, yet realistic setting. Our international faculty, simulation-based learning programs, live cases and distance-based learning, hardware playroom and well-stocked library are just a few of the reasons why Meril academy is a valuable asset to healthcare professionals.

The initiatives undertaken by Meril Life Sciences and Meril Academy are undertaken with the hope of building upon the edifice of knowledge and enterprise that empowers, emboldens, and unlocks new avenues of learning. Meril Academy focuses on the human element of the healthcare industry by providing healthcare professionals with enhanced skills that help create better surgical outcomes for patients. This method slowly but surely brings us closer to our goal of making a significant difference to human lives.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/about-us/meril-academy-the-cutting-edge-in-healthcare-education-for-medical-devices

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Honours, awards and global recognition graciously received by Meril Life Sciences

Founded in 2006, Meril Life Sciences has proven itself in the field of innovation, design, healthcare education and medical technology. Over the years we have developed more than 140  products across multiple therapy areas, established ourselves as the leading cardiac implant company in India, grown into a team of more than 4,000 employees and conducted business in more than 100 countries. Today, let us take a look back at the achievements, awards and the journey of Meril Life Sciences through the years.

Our exceptional business performance, broad and innovative range of vascular interventional devices and global presence, has made a mark on a national and global scale. This earned us the National best employer brand award in 2018, and Gujarat best employer brand award in 2019. Our very own Mr. Hemchandra Panjikar, Director & Group HR Head for Bilakhia Group of Companies, was also felicitated as the top 101 HR Minds at the National Best Employer Brand Awards 2019. These awards were held and facilitated by the Employer Branding Institute of India. The criteria taken into assessment for this award were translating and combining vision, action and HR strategy and how competent the organisation was at building a future-ready business plan.

Our revolutionary healthcare solutions were also awarded the Dun & Bradstreet-RBL Bank SME business excellence award in 2018 for the best women empowerment initiatives. Our state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical devices in the field of cardiovascular intervention were recognised and named the Cardiac implants company of the year by Frost & Sullivan. Frost & Sullivan has spent more than 50 years analysing, pioneering and guiding their clients to grow, their recognition is a true feather on our caps.

Frost & Sullivan recognised Meril Life Sciences for demonstrating excellence in growth, innovation and leadership by developing some of the most clinically advanced technologies - Myval– Transcatheter Heart Valve and MeRes100– BioResorbable Vascular Scaffold System. They identified Meril Life Sciences as a homegrown medtech company that addresses critical healthcare needs of patients in India and across the globe. With its strong overall performance, Meril Life Sciences has earned Frost & Sullivan’s 2019 Company of the Year Award in the Cardiac Implants Industry in India.

To support its evaluation of best practices across multiple business performance categories, Frost & Sullivan considers a company’s vision, innovation, performance and customer impact. With Meril’s dedication and commitment to innovation, training and education, scientific communication and the promise of creating and delivering best-in-class medical devices, we are poised to hit this mark every year and reach our goal of providing novel, cutting-edge healthcare solutions to all.

Read the full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/about-us/honours-awards-and-global-recognition-graciously-received-by-meril-life-sciences

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Top Medical Device Manufacturer Makes History As The First Indian Company To Make Heart Valve Technology Commercially Available

Meril Life Sciences was born with a fundamental dedication to creating healthcare technologies that improve the quality of human life. Our dedicated R&D team strives to be trendsetters in product innovations by identifying unmet clinical needs and pioneering relevant medical devices with quick turnaround cycles. With more than 150 dedicated R&D personnel working in a cross-functional capacity, our products form the next generation of medical devices and therapies. Being a global medical device manufacturer we are proud to be the first Indian company to make Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) technology commercially available on a global scale.

Technological triumph

At Meril Life Sciences we have always been dedicated to designing and developing state-of-the-art technology to alleviate human suffering and improve quality of life. The commercial launch of the Myval TAVR technology is simply an assertion of this fundamental belief. TAVR is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that repairs the heart valve without removing the old damaged valve. Using TAVR can help reduce hospital stay for patients, help them avoid pacemakers for upto 12 months post surgery, leave minimal scars and most importantly ensure the long term-safety and efficacy of the patient. Meril Life’s process behind creating such a technological triumph was covered by multiple news outlets and sources. A representative from the reputed website Moneycontrol.com got in touch with Mr. Sanjeev Bhatt, vice-president of corporate strategy at Meril Life Sciences to understand the hard work and effort that went into this accomplishment. As the complete articlestates, the market for TAVR is dominated by US medical device makers Medtronics and Edward Lifesciences, breaking into this market for an Indian company was no easy task.

Developmental challenges

“Over the last six years we have consciously decided to move into structural heart diseases. Structural  heart diseases are those where people have diseases not in the vessels, but in the heart itself,” said Mr. Bhatt. One of the initial challenges we faced in this endeavour was that early heart valves were made of metal and plastic. Over a period of time, a stent that had to be permanently placed inside the heart valve began to create further complications in patients. To compete on a global scale, Meril Life Sciences developed a bioprosthetic heart valve from pericardial materials of bovine and porcine materials. This heart valve was designed to gradually dissolve for 12-24 months, thus allowing the heart to heal and function naturally, without any complications. Along with the valve, we devised a balloon delivery system and a range of accessories and paraphernalia to support the TAVR surgery.

Huge untapped market

The article further goes on to state that there are currently less than 200 TAVR procedures done in a year, even though the need for it could be around 300,000 in India alone. While the idea and execution might be spot on, there is still a need to spread awareness about TAVR to make it a common therapy for coronary artery diseases. One of the core founding principles behind Meril Life Sciences is to bring the latest technology and best procedures within the reach of the patient.

To make this goal possible we have a dedicated R&D team comprising of doctors; biomedical, electrical, chemical engineers; material science specialists; IT experts such as 3D animators; clinical and regulatory experts; IP and patent experts; manufacturing engineers; and last but not least, advertising, marketing and logistics experts. All of these aspects come together and work in a cross-functional capacity to deliver excellence in medicinal products and providing answers to some of medicine’s toughest questions.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/in-the-news/top-medical-device-manufacturer-makes-history-as-the-first-indian-company-to-make-heart-valve-technology-commercially-available

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Meril Life Sciences Becomes The First Indian Company To Receive European Certification For Revolutionary Stent Technology

Meril Life Sciences is an Indian based global medical device company that is committed to R&D, innovation in manufacturing medical technology, scientific communication and making these innovations accessible to patients. This is accomplished by our state-of-the-art production facilities, a diverse and heterogeneous R&D team and education and learning opportunities for future healthcare professionals. We believe in a culture of innovation, research and developing long-standing relationships with patients, doctors, and key stakeholders.

The latest step on our journey to making healthcare accessible and improving the quality of life is our 100-micron bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) becoming the first thin-strut scaffold in India to receive European Conformity (CE) mark. The MeRes100 from Meril Life is a non-metallic mesh placed inside a narrowed artery to treat it. It has been uniquely designed to open a blocked artery, restoring blood flow and gradually dissolve over a period of 12-24 months, allowing the artery to heal and function on its own.

Receiving a European Conformity (CE) marking for the MeRes100 makes us the first company in India to achieve such a feat. This news was covered by journalist Aditya Anand from the newspaper, The Hindu. Mr. Anand visited the Meril Life Sciences headquarters in Vapi, Gujarat, to speak to the dedicated team behind MeRes100 and understand the efforts that went into creating this heart stent. Over the course of his visit, Mr. Anand met with Mr. Sanjeev Bhatt, vice-president of corporate strategy at Meril Life Sciences. To help Mr. Anand understands the innovation behind the latest MeRes technology, he explained that the role of a Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) is to provide temporary scaffolding to the blockage or lesion site in the heart and deliver a drug to facilitate better healing. What happens in most cases, is that the metallic stent remains inside the body as a permanent implant. Such a scenario can lead to an increased risk factor in the patient.

With the combined efforts of over 150 scientists, chemists, engineers, and researchers Meril was able to bridge the gap between the temporary treatment of opening a heart blockage and the undesirably permanent solution of placing a metallic DES implant. The new MeRes100 bioresorbable vascular scaffold was tested in India as MeRes-1 and further studies were conducted in Brazil, Europe, and Asia as MeRes-1 extend. Over a period of three years, it has been proved that the MeRes100 provides long-term safety and sustained efficacy for patients with coronary artery disease.

Dr. Praveen Chandra, chairman of interventional cardiology at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon, who was also the co-principal investigator of the MeRes-1 study observed that when it came to first-generation bioresorbable scaffolds, the long-term results were not favorable. By contrast, the MeRes100 has reduced strut thickness, improved profile, faster degradation, and a lower possibility of scaffold thrombosis. This makes the MeRes100 a giant leap forward in the field of interventional cardiology.

You can read the complete article by Mr. Aditya Anand here. All of the innovations from Meril life Sciences are born from the aim of improving the quality of human life through innovative and advanced healthcare solutions. The MeRes100 creates a minimal risk heart stent procedure with clinically proven long-term safety and efficacy. With the well-being of patients as our primary goal, Meril Life Sciences hopes to distribute and deliver path-breaking healthcare products to the entire world.

Read full blog post here: https://www.merillife.com/blog/in-the-news/meril-life-sciences-becomes-the-first-indian-company-to-receive-european-certification-for-revolutionary-stent-technology

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Training The Leaders Of Tomorrow With Meril Life Sciences’ Future Leader Training Program

At Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. it is our objective to identify unmet clinical requirements and produce relevant medical devices to address these requirements with immediate turnaround cycles. Such an objective can only be achieved through dedication and hard work that Merilians put in at every stage to make this goal a reality. With our enthusiastic and diverse R&D team, we aim to make healthcare solutions more accessible for doctors and patients alike. To meet these high standards we began the Future Leaders Program, an initiative by the Meril HR team to ignite the leader in each Merilian and take the company to new heights.

The Future Leader Training Program

We at Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. have always believed that leadership does not lie in the position, but the actions a person takes. We know that every employee has the potential of being the next leader and trendsetter for the company. Thus, the Future Leader Training Program began on 17th June 2019 with the first meeting being held at Takshashila Hall at Meril Academy. 250 Merilians were hand-picked by the management team from the manufacturing and administrative divisions for this initiative. The aim and function of the Future Leader Training Program is to facilitate rotations in and across functions of the Meril Life Sciences teams and allow employees and future leaders to learn about these medical devices in accelerated learning environments.

Rewarding and fun experience

Meril management teams believe that the Future Leader Training Program will be an incredibly rewarding and fun learning experience for employees. Such programs help improve relations among employees, hone people skills and their positive effects lead to employees becoming better and more authentic leaders. Developing these employees and their skills will be exactly what is required to take Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. from good to great.

Challenging and purposeful opportunities

The first session was conducted by Dr. Hemchandra Panjikar, Group Head HR at Meril Life Sciences India Pvt Ltd, who spoke about and gave examples from the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The 250 Merilians hand-picked for this role, have all been identified as potential emerging leaders within these divisions. Based on this, these future leaders will be taking on challenging and purposeful opportunities that accelerate their readiness to take on leadership roles.

Along with our complete dedication towards the design and development of novel, state-of-the-art and best in class devices, Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. is also deeply committed to conducting trials that allow for the alleviation of human suffering.With our Future Leader Training Program and other endeavours we at Meril Life Sciences hope to truly create a better and brighter future for all of us.

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TAVR Certification Program To Increase Proficiency Of Medical Professionals In The Latest Technology to Treat Coronary Artery Diseases - Meril Life Blog

Meril Academy is one of the largest and most advanced training centers in Asia, which has been visited by more than 10,000 healthcare professionals from all across the globe.

Meril Academy is one of the largest and most advanced training centers in Asia, which has been visited by more than 10,000 healthcare professionals from all across the globe. Built with the cosmic vision of bridging the gap between the rapid advancement in technology and its impact on patients and surgeries, Meril Academy enables healthcare professionals to learn more about these updated technologies. This healthcare education is provided through live cases, live lectures, complex case presentations and other informative lectures delivered by seasoned medical practitioners to help improve surgical outcomes.

Coronary artery diseases are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. This means that the number of patients suffering from aortic stenosis and other cardiovascular diseases is constantly on the rise. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) are fairly new procedures that are recommended to patients suffering from aortic stenosis with high and intermediate-risk levels. These procedures use a minimally invasive surgical approach to repair a damaged heart valve by placing a replacement valve into the faulty artery. To speed up the learning process of the newly introduced technology we organised the Myval Certification program, to reach out to interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons and train them in the use of this technology.

A one-day course was held on 12th January 2019 with 35 delegates participating from all over India and renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. G. Sengottuvelu acting as course director for the 1st TAVR certification program. The objective of the program was to train interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons on the basics of TAVR therapy by creating a blend of didactic situations and hands-on simulations. Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, Dr. Anmol Sonawane and Dr. Sanjiv Gupta were the faculty for this program. The first TAVR certification program was a successful endeavour signifying the start of the learning process.

It was followed by the 2nd TAVR certification program held on 16th March 2019. This program agglomerated 61 interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons across India, with Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao and Dr. Vijay Kumar presiding as course directors. The programs covered topics such as imaging of TAVR, step-by-step TAVR with Myval and TAVR in high-risk patients. The session further went on to discuss some interesting cases that used the Myval procedure to help treat patients.

Through initiatives such as the Myval TAVR certification program and Meril Academy, we at Meril Life have built products, training programs and facilities which allow us to compete on an international stage. Only through education and preparation for the future can we forge a path that will lead to healthcare that is accessible to everyone.

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What is a stent? Heart stent?

A stent is a tiny tube like structure that is used in treating heart diseases due to blocked blood vessels. It helps in keeping your blood vessels open, which supply blood from the heart to the entire body including the muscles of the heart. Majority of the stents are composed out of wire mesh and are permanent in nature. Some stents used for bigger blood vessels are also composed from fabric and are termed as stent grafts. A different class of stents are manufactured from materials that get dissolved or absorbed over time in the body. They are coated with medicines that gradually get released into your blood and prevent your arteries to get clogged.

Why a stent is required? In case fats present in the body get collected inside an artery, it can decrease flow of blood to your heart itself and can lead to chest pain and eventually cause a heart disease. Also, the accumulated fat or plaque can form a blood clot disturbing the blood flow to your heart and may even lead to a heart attack due to tissue death in the affected area (Myocardial Infarction). Stents decrease your subsequent risk of heart disease and can even treat a myocardial infarction (heart attack) which is in progress. Process of stent implantation: Your doctor will first make a small incision in a blood vessel located in your abdomen, arm or neck to insert a stent in your body. He then inserts a small tube known as a catheter through the vessel to the artery which is clogged.

The tube contains a tiny balloon at its end, that your doctor will inflate in your clogged artery. This process will widen your artery and restore the blood flow through the deprived portion. The stent will then be placed inside the artery and rest of the contents (balloon and catheter) will be taken out. The placed stent will keep the artery open to keep the usual blood flow. The entire process is estimated to last only an hour but mostly, you will be required to stay in the hospital for a night for observation of any adverse events.

Risks may include:

Hemorrhage at the spot of tube insertion.

Blood vessel damage at the time of insertion.

Infection.

Arrhythmia.

In rare cases (1-2%), people implanted with a stent, may develop a clot at the site of stent placement, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. This risk is maximum during the first couple of months post procedure. Hence, your doctor will recommend you to take aspirin or any other blood thinners to prevent clot formation.

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What is a hip replacement?

You first of all need to understand, what your hip joint actually is. The hip is amongst the body's largest joints. It is a ball-and-socket kind of joint where the socket is formed by the acetabulum, part of the large pelvis bone. On the other hand, the upper end of the thighbone (femur) forms the ball or the femoral head. The bony surfaces of the ball and the socket are covered by a smooth tissue that acts as a cushion at the bone ends to make their movement easy. This tissue is referred as articular cartilage. Another thin tissue referred to as synovial membrane also surrounds the joint.

In healthy conditions, the synovial membrane produces a fluid which lubricates the cartilage and diminishes any friction during movement of the hip, eliminating any kind of bone wear-and-tear. However, in conditions such as arthritis, the cartilage, acting as cushion between bones wears away. This wearing away causes friction between the bones of the joint leading to intense pain and stiffness. A hip replacement is a procedure involving the removal of the damaged portions of your hip joint due to friction and replacing them with artificial ones usually made of metal, ceramic or hard polymeric material.

This artificial joint/ implant aids in reduction of pain and also leads to improved joint mobility and function. A hip replacement could be recommended to you, if you are suffering from chronic hip pain which is hindering your daily activities and other non-invasive methods of pain reduction have proved to be ineffective or are no longer effective in improving your condition.

Why THR is required? The most frequent cause of needing a hip replacement is damage to the hip joint due to arthritis.

The different types of arthritis needing THR include

Osteoarthritis: It is generally referred as wear-and-tear type of arthritis. This disease causes damage to the slick cartilage that covers the bone ends and aids in smooth movement of the hip joint.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of arthritis is caused by an overactive immune system, that produces an inflammatory reaction damaging the cartilage and even bones lying below the cartilage, resulting in joint damage and deformation. 3) Osteonecrosis: Bone collapse or deformation caused due to poor blood supply to the ball region in the hip joint. You can consider going for a hip replacement after consulting with your doctors, if you are suffering from any of the following conditions: 1) Persistent pain, even after taing pain-killers. 2) Pain that becomes worse with activity such as walking.

Pain that disturbs your sleep.

Pain that makes you incapable to navigate through stairs.

Pain that makes getting up from a seated position, difficult. Main steps involved in a THR are as follows:

The damaged ball of the hip joint is taken out and replaced with a metallic stem and is placed into the femur's hollow center. The stem could either be cemented or "press fit" into the bone.

A metal or ceramic ball then replaces the worn out femoral head which was removed. This artificial ball is positioned on the stem's upper part.

The cartilage surface of the socket which is damaged gets replaced with a metallic socket. In order to hold the new socket in place, screws or cement is used.

Finally, a metallic or plastic spacer is positioned between the new implants to permit a smooth gliding surface for frictionless movement of the joint.

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What is a better option for angioplasty? A bare metal stent or a drug eluded stent?

By the early nineties, Bare Metal Stents (BMS) came into the arena of angioplasty which were metallic tube-like devices that could be compressed over a balloon and later expanded in the narrowed portion of the artery. These stents were initially composed of stainless steel and later improvements led to the introduction of alloys such as cobalt-chromium for their composition. Though, these stents proved to be a defining moment in treating CAD, as they brought down the restenosis rate from 40% to 25%, a 25% rate still remained a problem. This led to further development of newer generation of stents with better designs and thinner struts. The thinner struts gave the stents enhanced flexibility and deliverability at the desired regions. Still, the percentage of restenosis remained at 25%.

Robust research and advancements led to the evolution of drug eluting stents (DES) in stent technology. The first-generation DES were composed of the same primary materials as BMS with a drug coated on to the stents. These drugs had anti-proliferative activity which selectively stopped the scar tissue proliferation at the intended area of treatment. This innovation substantially reduced the restenosis rate to a mere 3-5%. Also, the novel 3rd generation DES stents are excellent devices lending enhanced flexibility with decreased restenosis. With a 3-5% rate of restenosis with DES, majority of patients with even multiple blocks can be treated with angioplasty and can provide a 95-97% probability of disease-free survival.

The most recently developed stents (called the 4th generation) or the biodegradable stents, are composed of substances such as heavy polymers that get dissolved within the body tissues over 3-4 years after the interventional procedure. Their advantage is that they get disappeared, after performing their job. Though this is a new strategy and has yielded positive results, their long term results are still pending. Overall, though there is so far no evidence to doubt this technology and its benefits, the only cause of concern is the absence of long term data.

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What is knee replacement

The knee is human body's largest joint and their healthy maintenance is required to perform most of everyday activities, easily. The knee is made up of the lower end of the thighbone (femur), the upper end of the shinbone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). The ends of these three bones where they meet are covered with articular cartilage, a smooth substance that protects the bones and enables them to move easily. The menisci are C-shaped wedges located between the femur and tibia. These act as "shock absorbers" that cushion the joint.

Large ligaments hold the femur and tibia together and provide stability whereas, the long thigh muscles provide strength to the knee. All remaining surfaces of the knee are covered by a thin lining called the synovial membrane. This membrane releases a fluid that lubricates the cartilage, reducing friction to nearly zero in a healthy knee.

Normally, all of these components work in harmony. But disease or injury can disrupt this harmony, resulting in pain, muscle weakness, and reduced function. The most common disease responsible for disrupting the harmony and causing chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis. Although there are many types of arthritis, mostly knee pain is caused by just three types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is an age-related "wear and tear" type of arthritis. It usually occurs in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too. In this type of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the bones of the knee softens and wears away.

The bones then rub against one another, causing knee pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the synovial membrane that surrounds the joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of a group of disorders termed "inflammatory arthritis."

Post-traumatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that can follow a serious knee injury. Fractures of the bones surrounding the knee or tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, leading to knee pain and limiting knee function. Knee replacement involves the removal of your damaged knee joint (due to arthritis or injury) and replacing it with an artificial joint. This is a major surgical procedure requiring hospital admission for 2 to 3 days. A knee replacement might be more accurately termed as knee "resurfacing" because only the surface of the bones are actually replaced.

There are four basic steps to a knee replacement procedure.

Preparation of bones: First of all, the damaged surfaces of the cartilage at the ends of the thighbone and the shinbone are removed along with a small portion of bone lying beneath the surface.

Positioning of the artificial implant: The cartilage and the bone which have been taken out are now replaced with artificial metallic components reforming. These artificial components can either be glued to the joint's surface using a cement or simply "press-fit" into the bone.

Resurfacing the kneecap: This step involves the cutting of the inner surface of the kneecap and resurfacing it by using a plastic button. Not all surgeons will resurface the kneecap as per the patient's condition.

Inserting the spacer: A spacer composed from medical grade plastic is then placed in the middle of the metallic parts for facilitating a friction-free movement.

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The Freedom Total Knee System Is The Most Innovative for Knee Replacement Surgeries In Asians

As a medical device manufacturer, we at Meril Life believe in delivering world-class health solutions with the latest and most effective medical equipment, created in our ultra-modern manufacturing facilities. We strive as global innovators and trendsetters to identify unmet clinical needs and produce relevant devices in quick turnaround cycles. Our dedicated research and development team composed of doctors, engineers, IT experts and even sales and marketing experts create an eclectic and heterogeneous team that covers every field. This empowers us to create products and therapy methods that truly focus on alleviating human suffering and improving the quality of life.

Keeping in mind this fundamental aim, we created the FREEDOM Total Knee® System. Knee replacement surgery is a common operation that involves replacing a damaged or diseased knee with an artificial joint. Most patients who undergo knee replacement surgery range from the age of 50 to 80. A closer look at the FREEDOM Total Knee® System will show you why it is one of the most effective knee replacement devices currently available.

What sets us apart

The FREEDOM Total Knee® System is the first US FDA approved knee system, with 7 tangential radii, resulting in excellent implant to bone fit. It was developed using advanced design engineering technologies to address the anatomical, physiological and lifestyle needs of today’s patients. The system’s unique and novel design allows patients to achieve optimal high flexion motion and ensures patient satisfaction. When compared to general bone replacement procedures, the FREEDOM Total Knee® System requires minimal bone cutting and enables a more conservative bone resection. Its intuitive design offers surgeons the freedom to customize their size options to better fit the implants to the patient’s knee. This makes complicated procedures and therapy methods such as an arthritis treatment, more efficient and raises success rates for both doctors and patients.

Benefits

The FREEDOM Total Knee® System streamlines the knee joint replacement process by reducing the number of trays and instruments required for the surgery. The instruments that are part of the FREEDOM Total Knee® System surgery kit are designed to be intuitive and easy to implement. The use of this system gives reproducible results while accommodating intraoperative ability. This system maximizes component interchangeability to enable simpler implantation, reduced procedure time, facilitates minimally invasive surgical approaches and decreases the time required to manipulate the system components. This gives better performance and improved patient outcomes.

Founded in 2006, Meril is an India-based, global medical device company, dedicated to innovation, design and development of novel, clinically relevant and state-of-the-art devices. Eliminating knee pain, focusing on long-term knee replacement, innovating and researching new technologies all bring us closer to our core commitment of delivering advanced healthcare solutions.

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Meril Life - The First Company In The World To Launch A Drug Eluting Stent With The World's Thinnest Struts

As a medical device manufacturer, we at Meril Life believe in delivering world-class health solutions with the latest and most effective medical equipment, created in our ultra-modern manufacturing facilities. As global innovators and trendsetters, we strive to identify unmet clinical needs and produce relevant devices with quick turnaround cycles. Our dedicated research and development team empowers us to create products and therapy methods that truly focus on alleviating human suffering and improving quality of life.

Coronary artery diseases, caused by a buildup of plaque in our arteries are the world’s leading cause of death. Plaque buildup, if left unchecked can cause heart arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, heart failure and even death. The new Evermine50™, a drug-eluting coronary stent system by Meril Life, gives patients a non-surgical procedure that results in improvement in heart functions without the need for pacemakers.

What is the Evermine50™?

The Biodegradable polymer, Evermine50™ is an everolimus-eluting coronary stent system made with an ultrathin (50 μm) strut stent design. The use of catheters to deal with heart issues has been around for a while. Surgeons would implant bare-metal stents inside arteries to hold the artery open and improve blood flow to the heart. This proved to be an ineffective solution as these stents would require re-narrowing or restenosis every 6-12 months in 1 out of 3 patients. To combat this, Meril Life Sciences came up with a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, which is a drug-eluting stent with the thinnest struts in the world. This stent does not cause restenosis and releases a drug to prevent blockage and keeps your arteries clear for a longer period of time.

What sets us apart

The Evermine50™ has a unique hybrid honey-comb cell design made from the Co-Cr L605 alloy. Its unique design gives it outstanding radial strength and visibility, while still focusing on flexibility and deliverability. The ultra-low strut thickness of just 50 µm minimises chances of vascular injury without compromising radial strength. The catheter has been designed specially with short balloon shoulders and a low balloon overhang to minimise balloon related edge injury. The stent uses a low tip entry profile and is delivered through a highly flexible system making it a healthcare solution that deals with coronary complications with minimal risk.

Benefits

We at Meril Life have our patients’ long-term safety and health as our highest priority. Compared to stents with thicker struts in the market, the Evermine50™ leads to lesser vessel injury, lowered risk of inflammation and reduced chances of thrombus formation. Clinical studies show that the Evermine50™ helps patients to avoid pacemaker implantation for up to 12 months post-procedure. With a minimally invasive procedure that leads to a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery rates, this is a stent that puts the patient first in every manner.

Meril Life Sciences is committed to alleviate human suffering and improve the quality of life by manufacturing and delivering path-breaking medical devices and healthcare products. Our innovation, design and development all prioritise, minimising risks for patients. The Evermine50™ is just one of the many ways in which we as a medical device manufacturer hope to improve the inventiveness in healthcare and enrich people’s lives.

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