Chapel Hill, NC – October 29, 2024 – Paragonix Technologies, Inc., a leader in organ preservation technology, and HonorBridge, North Carolina’s largest organ donation and tissue recovery organization, are proud to announce the successful transplantation of a donor liver to Tampa General Hospital using Paragonix’s state-of-the-art LIVERguard® technology. This achievement represents the first successful liver transplant facilitated by HonorBridge with Paragonix’s FDA-cleared advanced liver transport system.
In addition to LIVERguard®, HonorBridge currently utilizes Paragonix’s SherpaPak® and LUNGguard® technologies for heart and lung transplants. The introduction of LIVERguard is the latest advancement in HonorBridge’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology in the organ donation process.
“At HonorBridge, we are passionate about creating new alliances, enhancing our current collaborations, and seizing every opportunity—whether through cutting-edge technology, innovative processes, or the continuous development of our team,” said Wayde Batt, Vice President of Organ Operations at HonorBridge. “Our unwavering commitment is to advance our mission of saving and healing lives, and Paragonix LIVERguard is an excellent example of how we leverage the latest technology from an outstanding partner to push the boundaries of possibility. Together, we look forward to expanding the distance we can travel with the gift of life to save more lives than ever before.”
The LIVERguard system offers a breakthrough in donor liver preservation, moving beyond the traditional ice-and-cooler method that has been standard for over 50 years. This advanced organ preservation device provides a rigid outer structure for physical safety and employs cooling technology to ensure consistent thermal protection for donor organs. What sets the LIVERguard apart is its ability to provide a highly controlled hypothermic environment, driven by real-time data monitoring. This allows physicians to track and protect the donor liver throughout the entire transplant process, ensuring optimal conditions for a successful transplantation.
“Paragonix is dedicated to expanding access to donor organs and enhancing patient outcomes, and we are excited to partner with HonorBridge for rapid deployment of LIVERguard, our FDA-cleared, advanced donor liver technology, to all donors within their Donation Service Area (DSA),” said Lisa Anderson, Ph.D., President of Paragonix Technologies.
“With innovations like LIVERguard, transplant centers are now considering organs from greater distances and those with more medical complexity than ever before. We look forward to empowering the clinical community to fully utilize Paragonix devices, ensuring that every donor liver has the best opportunity to reach a recipient in need.”
