Bridge to Life CEO Don Webber Shares HOPE Breakthrough with Transplant Community at WTC 2025
To the Organ Transplantation Community,
What an incredible week it was for Bridge to Life at the World Transplant Congress (WTC) in San Francisco, August 2–6, 2025. Earlier this year we shared impactful data at ILTS in Singapore and ESOT in London — both important milestones. But WTC 2025 brought even greater excitement and visibility.
Bridge to Life opened WTC 2025 by sponsoring a Symposium that showcased our 12-month data from the Bridge to HOPE clinical trial, followed by a Plenary Session presentation on the first-ever comparative study of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) with normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) in liver transplantation.
We wrapped up the Congress with new sub-analyses showing both the potential cost savings of HOPE with VitaSmart™ and its promising immunomodulatory benefits.
Between these milestones, six other presentations – including late-breakers, oral presentations, and poster/abstract sessions – reinforced the strong value of VitaSmart™ with HOPE, which we are eager to bring to the U.S. soon. The reception to our presentations, data, and Symposium was overwhelmingly positive throughout the Congress.
In short, we are taking the next important step: working with the FDA to secure clearance for VitaSmart™ and HOPE in the U.S. After years of proven success in the EU and globally, we are thrilled by the potential to now bring this innovative technology to the U.S. transplant community.
Please check out the Bridge to Life WTC presentation summaries that follow — we’re proud to share them with you!
Plenary Session Presentation
“Hypothermic-Oxygenated and Normothermic Machine Perfusion: A Risk-Matched Post-Hoc Comparison of the Bridge to HOPE Randomized Trial with Prospectively Collected Institutional Outcomes”
This study, presented by Chase J. Wehrle, MD, Cleveland Clinic Transplant Center, Cleveland, Ohio – who was designated a Young Investigators Award Winner by both ILTS and WTC – during a Plenary Session attended by an audience of 5,000. It was the first-ever comparative study of hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) with normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) in liver transplantation. The analysis showed better outcomes with HOPE in conjunction with the VitaSmart™ Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion System, improving graft and recipient survival with fewer post-transplant complications, including reduced non-anastomotic strictures (NAS) and NAS-associated graft loss.
The analysis utilized data from the 12-month follow-up study of the Bridge to HOPE clinical trial.
These findings confirm earlier Bridge to HOPE results and demonstrate that HOPE with VitaSmart™ may offer superior organ and recipient survival compared with NMP. This is further evidence of the value VitaSmart™ can bring by increasing the supply of available livers, improving access for patients, and reducing waiting times for transplantation.
Oral Abstract Presentations
A new data analysis from our pivotal Bridge to HOPE trial – presented by David Axelrod, MD, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center – demonstrated that HOPE with VitaSmart™ reduces the cost of liver transplantation by shortening hospitalization and decreasing late complications, without compromising quality of care.
In Dr. Axelrod’s analysis, compared with static cold storage (SCS), HOPE with VitaSmart™ reduced post-transplant hospital length of stay (10.8 vs. 12.9 days), costs associated with biliary complications (20.2% vs. 24.6%), re-transplants (1.8% vs. 4.5%), and death (2.8% vs. 3.6%). Further, it reduced one-year post-transplant costs by an average of $28,565, according to CMS data. Additional financial benefits may include increased organ utilization, reduced staff overtime, and fewer high MELD transplants.
“Decreased Rejection Severity with Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion: Sub-Analysis from a Pivotal Multicenter Trial of HOPE for Liver Transplantation”
In another analysis of the Bridge to HOPE trial, David J. Reich, MD, FACS, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, considered the immunomodulatory effects of HOPE with VitaSmart™.
In the review of organ rejection data, moderate/severe biopsy-proven rejection was less common with VitaSmart™ HOPE than SCS (32% vs. 67%, p=.033). Researchers concluded that while overall rejection prevalence was similar, HOPE with VitaSmart™ was associated with significantly less severe rejection and lower risk of steroid-resistant rejection. These results highlight the immunomodulatory benefits of HOPE and warrant further research.
Together with the 12-month Bridge to HOPE data, these analyses strengthen the case that HOPE with VitaSmart™ delivers meaningful value to the transplant community. Bridge to Life is committed to partnering with Transplant Centers, Organ Procurement Organizations, and Hospitals to lower total cost of care while delivering the highest quality outcomes—by shortening hospital stays and reducing post-transplant complications, including severe and steroid-resistant rejection. Our broad presence at WTC 2025 underscores our leadership in advancing transplant science.
Poster Presentations
“Impact of Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Liver Transplantation: Stratified Analysis Based on Donor Age,” presented by Marco Maria Pascale, MD, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
“Mitochondrial Injury and Function Comparing Hypothermic and Normothermic Machine Perfusion of Human Livers,” presented by Omer Faruk Karakaya, MD, Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH
Late-Breaking Oral Abstracts
“Novel Approach to Viability Assessment of Split Liver Grafts Using Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion,” presented by Geofia Crasta, MD, Cleveland Clinic – Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH
“Clinical and Logistical Impact of Machine Perfusion in a Low-Volume Liver Transplant Center,” presented by Marco Maria Pascale, MD, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
“Liver Transplantation: New Techniques, Immunosuppression Strategies and Patient Outcomes,” presented by Marco Maria Pascale, MD, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
“Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE) in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Multicenter Study,” presented by Francisco Hernández Oliveros, MD, La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain
Bridge to Life Symposium: Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE): From Science to Clinical Impact
Chairperson/Moderator: Garret Roll, MD, UCSF
“Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE): From Science to Clinical Impact”
Chairperson/Moderator: Garret Roll, MD, UCSF
“Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion Clinical Evidence: Bridge to HOPE Trial”
Speaker: David Foley, MD, University of Wisconsin
“Viability Assessment in HOPE”
Speaker: Prof. Andrea Schlegel, Cleveland Clinic
“Economic Impact of Hypothermic Oxygenated Liver Perfusion”
Speaker: David Axelrod, MD, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
The Symposium took place at 7:00am and “played to” a full house!
You can view the entire Symposium here.
If you’ve read this far, you can see why these data — from world-renowned surgeons and academic institutions — are so exciting for the field.
Looking Ahead
Next up: We look forward to connecting with you at the 13th Congress of the International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) in Berlin, Germany, September 18–21, 2025 – where Bridge to Life will highlight new data with potentially significant impact on the pediatric transplant community.
As always, I welcome hearing from you.
Don Webber
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bridge to Life Ltd.
