Mitral TRans-Apical neoChordal Echo-guided Repair (TRACER) Trial
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Sponsor: Edwards Lifesciences

 
 
 
 
CE Mark Study for the Harpoon Medical Device 
 
Mitral TRans-Apical NeoChordal Echo-guided Repair (TRACER) 
Trial 
 
NCT02768870 
August 07, 2019 

Table of Contents 
ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 3 
I.
PRIMARY CONTACTS ......................................................................................................... 4 
II. STUDY SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... 5 
III. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 8 
DEVICE DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 8 
POTENTIAL BENEFITS ...................................................................................................... 8 
POTENTIAL RISKS ...........................................................................................................10 
IV. STUDY OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................... 11 
PERFORMANCE GOALS ..................................................................................................11 
SAFETY GOALS ................................................................................................................11 
V. STUDY DESIGN ................................................................................................................. 12 
VI. STUDY POPULATION ........................................................................................................ 12 
NUMBER OF PATIENTS ...................................................................................................12 
INTENDED USE ................................................................................................................12 
INCLUSION CRITERIA ......................................................................................................12 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA .....................................................................................................12 
PATIENT WITHDRAWAL FROM THE STUDY ..................................................................13 
VII. PATIENT ENROLLMENT .................................................................................................... 14 
INFORMED CONSENT .....................................................................................................14 
ENROLLMENT ..................................................................................................................14 
SCREENING/ PRE-PROCEDURE .....................................................................................14 
TREATMENT PROCEDURE/ASSESSMENTS ..................................................................15 
FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES/ASSESSMENTS ................................................................15 
VIII.CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS ............................................................................................. 17 
SEVERITY AND CAUSALITY ASSESSMENT ...................................................................18 
REPORTING ADVERSE EVENTS, DEVICE MALFUNCTIONS AND FAILURES ..............20 
DOCUMENTATION, EVALUATION AND NOTIFICATION OF SAEs .................................20 
IX. INVESTIGATIONAL DEVICE DISTRIBUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ............................ 22 
DEVICE ACCOUNTABILITY ..............................................................................................22 
RETURN OF DEVICES .....................................................................................................22 
X. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ................................................................................................... 23 
XI. STUDY ORGANISATION .................................................................................................... 26 
INVESTIGATIONAL SITE PERSONNEL ...........................................................................26 
CLINICAL MONITORING ...................................................................................................27 
CLINCAL EVENTS/STEERING COMMITTEE ...................................................................28 
STUDY ADMINISTRATIOJN ..............................................................................................28 
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: RECORDS RETENTION POLICY ...........................30 
DATA QUALITY ASSURANCE ..........................................................................................31 
SPONSOR .........................................................................................................................31 
STATEMENT OF INSURANCE POLICY ............................................................................31 
XII. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................ 32 
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI...........................................................................................32 
PATIENT INFORMATION AND INFORMED CONSENT....................................................32 
PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY ...........................................................................................32 
ETHICS COMMITTEE .......................................................................................................32 
REGULATORY APPROVAL ..............................................................................................32 
XIII.
QUALIFICATIONS OF STUDY CENTERS AND INVESTIGATORS ............................... 33 
Page 2

XIV.
PUBLICATION POLICY ................................................................................................. 34 
XV. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 36 
APPENDIX A: DECLARATION OF HELSINKI .......................................................................... 38 
ABBREVIATIONS 
AE 
Adverse event 
CA 
Competent authority 
CE 
Conformité Européene 
CEC 
Clinical events committee 
CKD 
Chronic kidney disease 
CRF 
Case report form 
EC 
Ethical Committee 
EFS 
Early feasibility study 
eCRF 
Electronic case report form 
ePTFE 
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene 
EU 
European Union 
FDAAA 
Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act 
GCP 
Good clinical practices 
GFR 
Glomerular filtration rate 
ICH 
International Conference on Harmonisation 
ICU 
Intensive Care Unit 
ID 
Identity Number 
IDMJE 
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors 
MDD 
Medical Device Directive 
MR 
Mitral Regurgitation 
NYHA 
New York Heart Association 
PA 
Pulmonary Artery 
SAE 
Serious Adverse Event 
SOC 
Standard of Care 
TOE 
Transoesophageal Echocardiogram 
TTE 
Transthoracic Echocardiogram 
USADE 
Unanticipated Serious Adverse Device Effect 
WHO 
World Health Organisation 
Page 3

II.
STUDY SUMMARY
Title:
Mitral TRans-Apical NeoChordal Echo-guided Repair (TRACER) 
Trial 
Protocol Number: 
Study Status: 
HMCE -1002-00k 
Enrollment was completed as of November 2017. Follow-ups range 
from 6 to 36 months. The purpose of this amendment is to extend to 
5 years of follow-up post-implant. 
Design: 
This is a prospective, single arm, nonrandomised, multi-center EU 
study to demonstrate the performance and safety of the Harpoon 
Medical device in patients with degenerative MR. 
Study Duration: 
Projected enrollment of first patient: April 2016 
Projected exit of final patient: November 2022 
Primary Objective: 
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and 
performance of the Harpoon Medical device. 
Patient Population: 
Patients with “Severe” mitral regurgitation as a result of posterior leaflet 
prolapse. 
Sample Size: 
Up to twenty (20) patients in the UK will be enrolled. 
Number of Sites: 
Up to eight (8) sites in up to four (4) countries.  Each country will enroll 
up to twenty (20) patients. 
Treatments: 
Up to eight (8) pairs of ePTFE chordae tendineae may be placed in the 
posterior leaflet of the mitral valve using the Harpoon Medical 
Transapical Device in order to establish effective coaptation of the 
mitral leaflets. 
Endpoints: 
Performance endpoints: 
Primary Performance Endpoints: To demonstrate that the Harpoon 
Medical device performs as designed and has the ability to 
successfully implant one or more ePTFE chordae tendineae on the 
mitral valve via a small left thoracotomy on the beating heart and 
reduce mitral regurgitation from “severe” to less than or equal to 
“moderate” at the conclusion of the procedure and at 30 days post-
procedure. 
Secondary 
Performance 
Endpoints: 
Severity 
of 
mitral 
regurgitation at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 
months, and 36 months follow-up shall be tracked and recorded. 
Page 5

Safety Goals: 
Primary Safety Endpoints: Procedure freedom from Serious 
Adverse Events (SAEs) during the ePTFE implantation procedure, at 
discharge, and at 30 days follow-up shall be tracked and recorded.   
Secondary Safety Endpoints Freedom from Serious Adverse 
Events (SAEs) at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 
months, and 36 months follow-up shall be tracked and recorded. 
Inclusion Criteria: 
•
Age > 18 years
•
Patient referred for mitral valve surgery
•
Presence of severe MR as read on an echocardiographic study
performed within 60 days prior to procedure.
•
Estimated 
post-ePTFE 
chordae 
tendineae 
implantation
coaptation surface is adequate in the judgment of the operating
surgeon and the patient eligibility committee
•
Degenerative mitral valve disease
•
Patient is able to sign informed consent and able to return for
follow-up and is capable of participating in all testing associated
with this clinical investigation
•
Women of child-bearing potential have a negative pregnancy
test
Exclusion Criteria: 
•
Age < 18 years
•
Infective endocarditis
•
Anterior or bileaflet prolapse
•
Functional MR
•
History of Mediastinal Radiation
•
Inflammatory (rheumatic) valve disease
•
Requirement for concomitant cardiac surgery (e.g., coronary
artery bypass grafting (CABG), aortic valve surgery, etc.)
•
Symptomatic coronary artery disease
•
Cardiogenic shock at the time of enrollment
•
ST 
segment 
elevation 
myocardial 
infarction 
requiring
intervention within 30 days prior to enrollment
•
Evidence of cirrhosis or hepatic synthetic failure
•
Pregnancy at the time of enrollment (women of child bearing age
should have negative pregnancy within 14 days of surgery)
•
Severe pulmonary hypertension (PA systolic pressure > 70
mmHg)
•
Previous cardiac surgery, or surgery on the left pleural space
•
Left ventricular, atrial or appendage thrombus
•
Severely calcified mitral leaflets
•
Recent stroke (<  6 months) with permanent impairment
Page 6

•
EuroScore (for mitral valve repair) > 8%
•
Patients 
with 
contraindications 
to 
Transoesophageal
echocardiography
•
Severe left or right ventricular dysfunction
•
NYHA Class IV
•
Renal insufficiency CKD stage 3b or worse (GFR < 45
ml/min/1.73 m2)
•
Patient is participating in another clinical study for which follow-
up is currently ongoing. (Co-enrollment in an investigational
device or interventional study)
•
Patient with non-cardiac co-morbidities and life expectancy < 1
year
•
Patient has a condition or conditions that, in the opinion of the
Investigator, preclude participation, including willingness to
comply with all follow-up procedures
Follow-up: 
The estimated enrollment period is 24 months, and all patients will 
have follow-up visits at 30 days, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months 24 
months, 30 months, 36 months, 48 months and 60 months after 
implantation. 
Page 7

III.
INTRODUCTION
Mitral Regurgitation, Transapical mitral valve repair, and the Harpoon Medical device
Mitral valve disease is the second common valvular heart disorder requiring surgery in Europe,
with nearly 8 million Europeans estimated to have severe mitral valve regurgitation (“MR”).  MR
results in a volume overload on the left ventricle which in turn leads to ventricular dilation,
decreased ejection performance, pulmonary hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure,
atrial fibrillation, right ventricular dysfunction and death. Successful surgical mitral valve repair
restores mitral valve function, abolishes the volume overload on the left ventricle, improves
symptom status and prevents adverse left ventricular remodeling.
The large majority of MR results from either degenerative disease (caused by elongated or
ruptured native chords that fail to support the mitral valve leaflets) or functional ischemic or
idiopathic MR (the motion of the normal mitral valve leaflets is restricted by the enlarged ventricle)
both of which lead to ineffective valve closure and regurgitation.
Two-thirds of all Mitral valve procedures in North America are performed on patients with
degenerative MR and that percentage is estimated to be similar in the European Union (EU).
Open cardiac surgery is a common method of treating degenerative mitral valve regurgitation
which involves replacing and/or supplementing elongated or ruptured chords with artificial chords
made of ePTFE, a commercially available material which has a 20+ year history of safety in
conventional mitral valve repair procedures. While open cardiac surgery has a low mortality risk
(less than 1%) and is evidenced to have excellent long term outcomes, it has risks, including
stroke, bleeding, infection, and the risk of valve replacement rather than repair. It is anticipated
that use of the Harpoon device could achieve similar outcomes while decreasing the invasiveness
of mitral valve repair.
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
The Harpoon Medical Transapical device is intended to be used to reduce the degree of mitral
regurgitation by delivering and anchoring artificial chordae tendineae to the affected mitral valve
leaflet(s) in a beating heart.  The device is intended to be a Single Use Device, used in a surgical
operating suite or equivalent setting.  Harpoon Medical has developed a novel small-diameter (<
3 mm) rigid linear delivery system using a needle wrapped with ePTFE in a pre-formed knot
configuration The device delivers replacement chordae using a valved introducer inserted a few
centimeters “off apex” using Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). To deploy the pre-
formed knot on the atrial side, the delivery system is actuated to advance the needle and pre-
formed knot through the leaflet.  The delivery system then retracts the needle, leaving the pre-
formed knot on the atrial side of the leaflet.   After deployment, the delivery system is withdrawn
from the valved introducer, exposing the replacement chordae tendineae.  The procedure may be
repeated up to 4 times using a single valved introducer.  The replacement chordae tendineae are
adjusted under real-time TOE to optimise the surface of coaptation between leaflets before they
are secured to an ePTFE pledget on the epicardium.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
It is anticipated, that the Harpoon Medical device will provide advantages over current surgical
interventions including: 1) a small minimally invasive incision, 2) no sternotomy, 3) no
Page 8

cardiopulmonary bypass, 4) no aortic manipulation, 5) a direct path to the valve plane, 6) 
performed on a beating heart, 7) real-time TOE-guided chordal length adjustment and 8) less 
complicated procedure that is teachable and adoptable. The only intracardiac implant associated 
with the Harpoon Medical device is an ePTFE suture, which has a 20+ year history of safety in 
conventional mitral valve repair procedures. Moreover, the Harpoon approach is unlikely to 
compromise subsequent traditional open-heart mitral valve repair or replacement procedures.  
Conventional mitral valve surgical procedures require a 3 to 6 hour operation with about 7 days 
(including at least 1 to 3 days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU))1.  Recovery after valve surgery 
may take a long time, depending on how healthy the patient was before the operation. Patients 
with an office job, can usually go back to work in 4 to 6 weeks. Those who have more physically 
demanding jobs may need a longer recovery period.  It is anticipated that the Harpoon procedure 
time will be reduced to 1 to 2 hours (average procedure time of 110 minutes) and recovery times 
would be substantially shorter due to the less invasive nature of the procedure. Collectively, the 
benefits of the Harpoon procedure should translate into less pain and disability, shorter hospital 
lengths of stay, fewer strokes, less renal failure, fewer wound infections and lower peri-procedural 
mortality.   
There are alternate treatments available to replace ruptured or elongated chordae tendineae and 
reduce MR. However, there is no currently effective medical therapy that treats or cures MR, and 
the alternate procedures to repair the mitral valve are generally more invasive, associated with 
greater morbidity and/or less effective repair of the mitral valve. The current technologies available 
to address the structural defects of MR include: 
•
Open-heart operations to repair or replace the mitral valve.  Open cardiac mitral valve
operations either require a sternotomy or a thoracotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic
manipulation and cardioplegic cardiac arrest.  Mitral valve repair is carried out with leaflet
resectional techniques (Carpentier) or nonresectional techniques using ePTFE chordae
tendineae placed under direct vision.  Because the heart is flaccid and arrested, sizing the
chordae tendineae is difficult.  Improper sizing of the chordae tendineae may result in a
failed or ineffective mitral valve repair.  The success of mitral valve repair is significantly
dependent on the expertise of the operating surgeon.  For patients with degenerative
mitral valve disease, mitral valve replacement is inferior to mitral valve repair (short-term
higher perioperative mortality and long term substantially higher risks of stroke and
prosthetic valve endocarditis as well as either the need for lifelong anticoagulation
(mechanical valve) or the risk of repeat mitral operation (bioprosthetic valve). Mitral valve
replacement (compared to repair) is a risk of open cardiac surgery.   This procedure is
also very invasive and not a feasible option for all patients.
•
In 2008, Evalve received a CE mark for the MitraClip in the EU. Shortly thereafter, the
company was acquired by Abbott Labs. The implantation of MitraClip does not involve
open-heart surgery, but mimics the surgical method of edge-to-edge valve repair where
the mitral valve leaflets are clipped together with the device instead of being sutured
together.  Extensive clinical experience with the MitraClip has been collected over the last
six years and the clinical efficacy has been mixed.
1 http://www.rbhh-specialistcare.co.uk/diagnosis-treatments/heart-treatments/valve-repair-or-replacement-
incl-tavi-mitral-valve-repair/ 
Page 9

•
In 2013, NeoChord released a CE marked, Class III medical device to the EU as a
minimally invasive procedure that is performed on a beating heart to replace chordae
tendineae that have become elongated or ruptured.  NeoChord does not involve open-
heart surgery, but mimics the surgical method of suturing the free-edge of the mitral valve
to install replacement chordae tendineae.  Initial clinical results have been promising, but
the device requires the surgeon to enter the left ventricle with a large shaft (~3x larger
than the Harpoon device) for every suture.  Suture placement is limited to the free edge
of the mitral leaflet and requires the operator to grasp a moving mitral leaflet for
deployment.
Although these procedures are available to cardiothoracic surgeons in the EU, there is still a need 
for additional minimally invasive treatment options for patients suffering from MR.  Based on the 
outcomes from the EFS, it is expected that the Harpoon Medical device will be a valuable 
treatment alternative for patients suffering from MR. 
POTENTIAL RISKS 
There are risks associated with our protocol. The Harpoon Medical device received CE Mark in 
December 2017.   The study uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to repair/replace the 
native chordae in a human heart.  The discomforts and risks that we predict are equivalent to 
what is expected from similar cardiac procedures performed through the chest wall on a beating 
heart to repair the mitral valve (i.e., localised pain, discomfort at the incision site(s) and the risks 
of bleeding, injury to the myocardium and injury to the mitral valve).  If the Harpoon Medical device 
does not perform as designed, classical definitive repair of the mitral valve using conventional 
open-heart procedures and cardiac bypass will be used to facilitate the repair.  There may be a 
possibility that the TRACER procedure causes the classical definitive repair that would be carried 
out subsequently, if needed making the classic repair more technically and clinically difficult.  
Page 10

IV.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and performance of the Harpoon Medical
device.
PERFORMANCE GOALS
Primary Performance Endpoints: To demonstrate that the Harpoon Medical device performs as
designed and has the ability to successfully implant one or more ePTFE chordae tendineae on
the mitral valve via a small left thoracotomy on the beating heart and reduce mitral regurgitation
from “severe” to less than or equal to “moderate” at the conclusion of the procedure and at 30
days post-procedure.
Secondary Performance Endpoints: Severity of mitral regurgitation at 6 months, 12 months, 18
months, 24 months, 30 months, and 36 months follow-up shall be tracked and recorded.
SAFETY GOALS
Primary Safety Endpoints: Procedure freedom from Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) during the
ePTFE implantation procedure, at discharge, and at 30 days follow-up shall be tracked and
recorded.
Secondary Safety Endpoints Freedom from Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) at 6 months, 12
months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months and, 36 months follow-up shall be tracked and
recorded.
Page 11

V.
STUDY DESIGN
This is a prospective, single arm, nonrandomised, multi-center EU study to demonstrate the
performance and safety of the Harpoon Medical device in patients with degenerative MR.
VI.
STUDY POPULATION
NUMBER OF PATIENTS
Up to 20 patients in the UK may be enrolled.  The estimated enrollment period is 24 months, and
all patients shall be followed for 30 days, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months,
36 months, 48 months and 60 months after implantation in accordance with the Clinical
Investigations schedule provided in Section VIII.
INTENDED USE
The Harpoon Medical device is intended to be used by a trained medical professional.  The device
is designed to reduce the degree of mitral regurgitation by delivering and anchoring artificial
chordae tendineae to the affected mitral valve leaflet(s) in a beating heart.  The device is intended
to be a Single Use Device, used in a surgical operating suite or equivalent setting.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
•
Age > 18 years
•
Patient referred for mitral valve surgery
•
Presence severe MR as read on an echocardiographic study performed within 60 days prior
to procedure.
•
Estimated post-ePTFE chordae tendineae implantation coaptation surface is adequate in the
judgment of the operating surgeon and the patient eligibility committee
•
Degenerative mitral valve disease
•
Patient is able to sign informed consent and able to return for follow-up and is capable of
participating in all testing associated with this clinical investigation
•
Women of child-bearing potential have a negative pregnancy test
EXCLUSION CRITERIA 
•
Age < 18 years
•
Infective endocarditis
•
Anterior or bileaflet prolapse
•
Functional MR
•
History of Mediastinal Radiation
•
Inflammatory (rheumatic) valve disease
•
Requirement for concomitant cardiac surgery (e.g., coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG),
aortic valve surgery, etc.)
•
Symptomatic coronary artery disease
•
Cardiogenic shock at the time of enrollment
Page 12

•
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction requiring intervention within 30 days prior to
enrollment
•
Evidence of cirrhosis or hepatic synthetic failure
•
Pregnancy at the time of enrollment (women of child bearing age should have negative
pregnancy within 14 days of surgery)
•
Severe pulmonary hypertension (PA systolic pressure > 70 mmHg)
•
Previous cardiac surgery, or surgery on the left pleural space
•
Left ventricular, atrial or appendage thrombus
•
Severely calcified mitral leaflets
•
Recent stroke (< 6 months) with permanent impairment
•
EuroScore (for mitral valve repair) > 8%
•
Patients with contraindications to Transoesophageal echocardiography
•
Severe left or right ventricular dysfunction
•
NYHA Class IV
•
Renal insufficiency CKD stage 3b or worse (GFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2)
•
Patient is participating in another clinical study for which follow-up is currently ongoing. (Co-
enrollment in an investigational device or interventional study)
•
Patient with non-cardiac co-morbidities and life expectancy < 1 year
Patient has a condition or conditions that, in the opinion of the Investigator, preclude
participation, including willingness to comply with all follow-up procedures
PATIENT WITHDRAWAL FROM THE STUDY 
A withdrawal refers to a patient who is determined to be inactive in the study due to physician 
discretion, patient or family choice (if the patient becomes incapacitated and is unable to continue 
with the study due to a family choice), and loss to follow-up or patient death.  Final status shall be 
reported on all patients as per the informed consent.  Three documented phone calls and a 
registered/certified letter shall be used to assure that there is minimal loss to follow-up.  If these 
efforts to contact the patient are unsuccessful, the patient shall be considered lost to follow-up. 
Page 13

VII.
PATIENT ENROLLMENT
INFORMED CONSENT
Patients who are screened and for whom the principal investigator feels would be a good
candidate for inclusion in the Mitral TRACER Trial, will be asked to sign the study specific Ethics
Committee (EC) approved Patient Information Sheet before any study-specific tests or
procedures are performed.  Study personnel should explain that even if a patient agrees to
participate in the study and signs the Patient Information Sheet, the patient may not be eligible to
participate if he/she fails additional eligibility criteria.
A Screening/Enrollment Log will be maintained in the on-site clinical records located at the study
site to document select information about candidates who fail to meet the entry criteria.
ENROLLMENT
Patients will be considered enrolled in the Mitral TRACER Trial once informed consent has been
signed and all eligibility criteria confirmed, including intra-operative assessment of suitability of
the patient’s mitral valve for Harpoon device treatment.
SCREENING/ PRE-PROCEDURE
Screening evaluations: All patients that are identified as potential candidates for the study shall
undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) OR TOE.  A TOE will be performed at the referring
doctor’s request or if the Harpoon Medical determines that the TTE images are not readable. Both
the TTE and TOE are routine preoperative studies for patients undergoing heart valve surgery.
The screening evaluations will be sent to the Harpoon Medical Patient Eligibility Committee (PEC)
who will independently assess the eligibility of the patient for participation in the TRACER study.
The PEC will provide the study site with a Pass or Fail for the patient being screened.  If the PEC
determines a PASS for the patient under consideration, the patient will proceed to the pre-
procedure/baseline evaluations.  If the PEC determines a FAIL for the patient, the patient will be
referred back to the standard of care.
Pre-procedure/baseline evaluations: Once the patient is enrolled for the Harpoon Medical
procedure, a Physical Assessment will be performed.  This includes a comprehensive history and
physical examination, including the listing of all medications and dosage.  Additionally, the
following physical assessments shall be completed:
•
Vital signs
•
12-lead ECG
•
Routine Laboratory assessment (including WBC count; Hemoglobin; hematocrit; platelet
count; creatinine Level, INR)
•
Additional Laboratory assessment (including Total Albumin, Total Bilirubin, BNP, NTproBNP)
•
A chest radiograph (X-Ray)
•
A serum pregnancy test for females with childbearing potential (age < 50 years) shall be
completed within 14 days prior to the procedure
•
In accordance with the hospital’s clinical Standard of Care, a left heart catheterisation (LHC)
may be required for all patients >/= 45 years of age without risk factors and for any patient
with symptoms of coronary artery disease
Page 14

•
Pulmonary Function Tests, when clinically indicated
•
6 Minute Walk test
•
Quality of Life Assessment
The data from this physical assessment shall be recorded on a Case Report Form (CRF). 
TREATMENT PROCEDURE/ASSESSMENTS 
The procedural approach requires that the patient be administered a general (single lumen) 
endotracheal anesthesia with appropriate monitoring lines (e.g. arterial line) and heparinised 
saline to achieve an activated clotting time of ≥ 350 seconds.  The patient should be placed in the 
supine position with elevation of the left hemithorax to 30o.  Briefly, the procedure consists of 
performing a small left lateral thoracotomy incision overlying the left ventricular apex, opening the 
pericardium and selecting an insertion site on the epicardium for the Harpoon Medical device 
where a monofilament purse-string suture is placed to hold the Harpoon device introducer in place 
and reduce bleeding. Once the introducer is in place, the device is inserted and positioned 
adjacent to the mitral leaflet under TOE guidance and bulky suture knot is deployed to secure 
paired sutures in the leaflet. The paired sutures are brought outside the ventricle. Up to four (4) 
suture pairs may be placed, using a singled valved introducer, to secure and align apposition 
between the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets. If more than four (4) suture pairs are required, 
the valved introducer must be removed and reinserted for reuse, and then an additional four (4) 
suture pairs may be inserted.  Once an adequate number of suture pairs are placed, the device 
and introducer are removed, and the suture pairs are tightened and secured to the exterior 
myocardium using pledgets for each suture pair. The thoracotomy should be closed, and chest 
tube(s) should be inserted, per hospital standard of care.  
The details of the procedure a described thoroughly in the Harpoon Medical device Instructions 
for Use. 
If in the judgment of the operating surgeon, adequate MR reduction has not been achieved, or if 
for any other clinical reason, conversion to SOC mitral valve surgery via a median sternotomy 
shall be performed.  This procedure may be performed at the time of the Harpoon Medical 
TRACER procedure or at a later date/time at the discretion of the operating surgeon.  Subjects 
who undergo a conversion to SOC mitral valve surgery via a median sternotomy will be followed 
up for 30 days. 
FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES/ASSESSMENTS 
Post-procedure management: Standard hospital protocols for the management of patients after 
mitral valve surgery shall be followed.  Unless other indications for anticoagulation are present, 
all patients shall receive only 325 mg/day, beginning on arrival to the intensive care unit). 
Discharge:  All patients shall be discharged from the hospital at the discretion of the attending 
cardiac surgeon.  Prior to dismissal all patients shall undergo a comprehensive pre-dismissal 
TOE, as well as a physical assessment (vide supra) in accordance with the schedule of Clinical 
Investigations. 
Page 15

Patient follow-up: Patients shall be seen in the outpatient clinic 30 days (+10 days/-0 days) after 
the Harpoon procedure.  A TTE and a clinical assessment shall be performed at that time (in 
accordance with the schedule of Clinical Investigations) to evaluate the device against the primary 
and secondary performance and safety endpoints.   
Additional clinical and TTE follow-up in a registry fashion shall occur for all active subjects (in 
accordance with the Clinical Investigations defined in the table below) at the following intervals: 
•
6 months (+/- 30 days),
•
12 months (+/- 30 days)
•
18 months (+/- 30 days)
•
24 months (+/- 30 days)
•
30 months  (+/- 30 days)
•
36 months (+/- 30 days)
•
48 months (+/- 30 days) and
•
60 months (+/- 30 days)
If due to an increase of MR, or due to any other medical circumstances, and a study patient has 
to undergo a Mitral Valve reoperation, this patient will be followed up by the study team for 30 
days and then will be exited from the study 
Page 16

Transthoracic 
Echocardiogram 
(TTE) *** 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Transoesophageal 
Echocardiogram 
(TOE)  
X 
X 
X 
SF-36 Quality of 
Life Assessment 
X 
X 
6 Minute Walk Test 
X 
X 
EUROscore risk 
assessment 
X 
Pulmonary 
Function Test (if 
clinically indicated) 
X 
*** TOE: may be required if the TTE images are not readable 
RETROSPECTIVE COLLECTION OF DATA 
Protocol Version 00k extends the patient follow-up with visits at 48 and 60 months. The 
Protocol Version 00j had introduced additional follow-up visits at 18, 30 and 36 months. 
These protocols allow retrospective collection of data on any scheduled or unscheduled 
visit that the subjects participated in for the TRACER trial (if subject came back to the 
hospitals) before Versions 00j or 00k are approved by Ethic Committee (EC) and 
Competent Authority (CA).  
Once Protocol Version 00k has been approved by relevant EC and CA, patients will be 
contacted and asked to consent to the additional visits and have their data collected. 
Patients who exited from the trial at 36 months as scheduled per protocol Version 00j will 
be contacted and requested to continue their follow-up up to 60 months as scheduled by 
Protocol Version 00k.  
Two different versions of information letters will be sent depending on patient status 
(already exited or not). Each patient will have to sign this letter to approve collection of 
additional data. 
SEVERITY AND CAUSALITY ASSESSMENT 
The occurrence of Adverse Events (AE’s) will be monitored during this study. All AE’s will be 
recorded on the Adverse Event Form at onset and at each follow-up visit until resolved. To meet 
the objectives of this study, the following definitions will apply. (Definitions reference ISO 
14155:2012-01 and MEDDEV 2.7/3, December 2010) 
Adverse Event (AE):  Any untoward medical occurrence, unintended disease or injury or any 
untoward clinical signs (including an abnormal laboratory finding) in patients, users or other 
persons whether or not related to the investigational medical device. This includes events related 
to the device or events related to the procedures involved (any procedure in the clinical 
investigation plan). For users or other persons, this definition is restricted to events related to 
investigational medical devices. 
Page 18

Adverse Device Effect: An adverse event related to the use of an investigational medical device, 
including adverse events resulting from insufficient or inadequate Instructions for Use, 
deployment, implantation, installation or operation, or any malfunction of the medical device or 
any event resulting from use error or intentional misuse of the medical device. 
All AEs will be monitored from the time of the Harpoon Medical procedure through the 60 month 
follow-up visit. All AEs observed by the Investigator or staff during a physical or laboratory 
examination, interventional procedure, or mentioned by the patient either spontaneously or upon 
questioning will be recorded on the AE case report form. Information pertaining to all AEs will be 
reviewed and verified by the study Sponsor’s Safety Team or its designated representative. The 
Investigator is responsible for assessing the severity of the AE, the causal relationship between 
any events and the clinical study procedure, activities or device. Additionally, the Investigator is 
responsible for providing appropriate treatment for the event and for adequately following the 
event until resolution. The following categories of adverse event severity are to be used: 
•
Mild: Awareness of a sign or symptom that does not interfere with the patient’s usual
activity or is transient, resolved without treatment and with no clinical sequela.
•
Moderate: Interferes with the patient’s usual activity
•
Serious: Any fatal or immediately life-threatening clinical experience that requires a patient
to be hospitalised, or hospitalisation is unduly prolonged because of potential disability or
danger to life or because an intervention has been necessitated. This includes any
permanently disabling event.
Device deficiency:  Inadequacy of a medical device related to its identity, quality, durability, 
reliability, safety or performance, such as a malfunction, misuse or use error and inadequate 
labeling. 
Investigational medical device:  A medical device being assessed for safety or performance in 
a clinical investigation.  This includes medical devices already on the market that are being 
evaluated for new intended uses, new populations, new materials or design changes. 
Serious Adverse Device Effect (SADE): An adverse device effect that has resulted in any of 
the consequences characteristic of a Serious Adverse Event. 
Serious Adverse Event (SAE): A serious adverse event is any problem encountered in a 
licensable clinical trial that has led to death or to a serious deterioration in the health of a patient 
that either resulted in: a life-threatening illness or injury; or  a permanent impairment of a body 
structure or a body function; or  in-patient hospitalisation or prolongation; or  medical or surgical 
intervention to prevent life-threatening illness or injury or permanent impairment to a body 
structure or a body function.  This includes device deficiencies that might have led to a serious 
adverse event if suitable action had not been taken or if intervention had not been made or if 
circumstances had been less fortunate.   
Note:  Planned hospitalisation for a pre-existing condition, or a procedure un-related to the mitral 
valve treatment or a procedure required by this study, that is without serious deterioration in 
health, is not considered a serious adverse event.  
SAEs must be reported via eCRF (electronic case report form) immediately but no later than 3 
calendar days upon site awareness. 
Page 19

All SAEs and device deficiencies (reported by Investigators or identified by Safety) will be 
adjudicated by an independent Clinical Endpoint Committee (CEC) through the 36 month follow-
up, based on relevant source documents provided from the investigational sites. 
The CEC will verify SAE criteria and code. For all confirmed SAEs, CEC will also conduct a 
causality assessment in regards to the investigational Harpoon device and the index procedure. 
All adjudication activities are managed by Sponsor’s Safety team according to the CEC Charter. 
Unanticipated Serious Adverse Device Effect (USADE): Serious adverse device effect which, 
by its nature, incidence, severity or outcome has not been identified in the current version of the 
risk analysis report.  
UADEs must be reported to MedPass Limited by telephone and/or email within 24 hours upon 
site awareness. 
REPORTING ADVERSE EVENTS, DEVICE MALFUNCTIONS AND FAILURES 
All SAEs and Investigational Medical Device deficiencies that might have led to a SAE if suitable 
action had not been taken or if intervention had not been made or if circumstances had been less 
fortunate or if any new findings/updates in relation to already reported event have been made. 
These events shall be recorded on the Adverse Event CRF by the Investigator (or his/her 
designee) immediately but no later than 3 calendar days upon site awareness. The report should 
include: identification of the event , country, study center, patient ID code, date of procedure/first 
use, date of event onset, description of the event, action/treatment/patient outcome, assessment 
of relationship to the procedure (yes, no, possibly), assessment of relationship to the 
investigational device (yes, no, possibly), unanticipated SADE (yes/no), event status (resolved, 
resolved with sequela, ongoing, death), and the date of the event resolution. 
In the case of serious adverse events (SAE), procedure and/or device failures and malfunctions, 
medical record documentation (e.g., procedure notes, operative notes, discharge summary, 
relevant progress notes, imaging or lab studies) must be provided to Harpoon Medical or its 
designee, if requested. If appropriate, the event shall subsequently be reported to the relevant 
Ethics Committee, and the Sponsor shall inform the Competent Authority within the appropriate 
timelines.  
DOCUMENTATION, EVALUATION AND NOTIFICATION OF SAEs 
All incidents will be captured as a part of this clinical study. At each contact with the patient, the 
investigator must seek information on adverse device effects by specific questioning and, as 
appropriate, by examination. Information on all adverse device effects should be recorded 
immediately in the source document, and also in the appropriate adverse effect case report form 
(CRF). All clearly related signs, symptoms, and abnormal diagnostic procedures results should 
recorded in the source document. 
In conformity with MDD Directive 93/42/EEC (Article 10), any incident resulting from a malfunction 
or deterioration in the characteristics and/or performance of the device or inadequacies in the 
Page 20

labeling that might lead or might have led to the death of a patient or user or to a serious 
deterioration in the state of health of the patient or user or any device deficiency that leads to a 
systematic recall will be reported to the appropriate authorities. During site visits, the Monitor will 
follow-up with the Investigator(s) to ensure they have transmitted the information to the 
appropriate authorities and that the appropriate documentation is retained onsite in the study 
regulatory binder. 
The Investigator shall report all serious adverse events (anticipated or unanticipated) to the 
Sponsor’s UK Legal Representative within 24 hours upon becoming aware of events. 
All adverse device effects occurring during the study period must be recorded using the Adverse 
Event Source Documents and Case Report Forms provided by the Sponsor for documenting 
adverse events. The clinical course of each event should be followed until resolution, stabilisation, 
or until it has been determined that the study treatment or participation is not the cause. Serious 
adverse device effects that are still ongoing at the end of the study period must be followed up to 
determine the final outcome. Any serious adverse device effects that occur after the study period 
should be recorded and reported promptly to the appropriate authorities. A follow-up written 
report, documented on the Adverse Event CRF and including any related clinical documentation, 
shall be provided as soon as possible and shall include the following information, as applicable: 
1.
Patient Study ID
2.
Event description
3.
Statement as to whether it is considered anticipated or unanticipated
4.
Statement as to the degree to which it is considered device-related, and why
5.
Results of any diagnostic tests that were performed
6.
Description of any medical intervention required
7.
Status following the intervention
8.
Investigator’s signature and date on the AE CRF
The Investigator will continue to clinically monitor the adverse event per standard of care until it 
is resolved, stabilised, or the patient’s status returns to pre-event status, documenting the status 
on appropriate CRFs, including any sequela. 
The Sponsor will ensure compliance with all country-specific reporting requirements to the 
appropriate Ethical Committee and Competent Authority. 
Page 21

IX.
INVESTIGATIONAL DEVICE DISTRIBUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
DEVICE ACCOUNTABILITY
The Investigator is responsible for ensuring that the investigational devices are used only under
the Investigator’s supervision and are only used according to this protocol and any approved
amendments. The Investigator will not supply an investigational device to any person not
authorised to participate in the study. The Investigator shall maintain adequate records of the
receipt and disposition of all investigational devices. The Investigator shall document in CRFs the
lot numbers of the devices used during a case. In addition, the Investigator shall keep complete
and accurate records of all devices used or unused in a Device Accountability Log, provided by
the Sponsor, that have been returned to Harpoon Medical.
RETURN OF DEVICES
All unused investigational devices will be returned to the study Sponsor upon completion of the
clinical study. All used investigational devices will be properly disposed of, per institutional
procedures. Any investigational device that fails to perform correctly will be immediately returned
to the study Sponsor for analysis. The Investigator or his/her designated representative is
responsible for device accountability and disposition of all used and unused devices. The study
Sponsor or its designated representative will conduct device reconciliation at the completion of
patient enrollment or at the conclusion of the study.
Page 22

X.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Based on the sample size calculations below, a total of 30 patients should be sufficient to
demonstrate statistical non-inferiority of the Harpoon Medical device to other devices currently
on the market in the EU for less-invasive mitral valve repair in the beating heart with a 90%
power using a two-sided α of 0.05 (one-sided 0.025).  The clinical investigation of the Harpoon
Medical device involves a multi-center study conducted across multiple countries and up to a
total of 20 patients will be enrolled in the UK.  Data collected from the first 30 patients enrolled
across all sites will be used to support the CE mark of the Harpoon Medical device.  Therefore,
data from some or all of the 20 patients enrolled in the UK, depending on the timing of enrollment,
will be used to support the CE mark of the Harpoon Medical device.  The estimated enrollment
period for the study is up to 24 months, and all patients shall be followed for 30 days, 6 months,
12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 48 months and 60 months after
implantation in accordance with the Clinical Investigations schedule provided in Section VIII.
Currently, there are two (2) Class III reference devices on the market in the EU for treating MR
due to one or more prolapsed leaflets (degenerative MR): the MitraClip device and the
NeoChord DS1000.  Both of these devices were designed to reduce MR on a beating heart
without the need to arrest the heart or place the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. The
primary and secondary endpoints used to support CE mark for these devices were: freedom
from death and MACE, freedom from surgery for mitral valve repair or replacement, and a
reduction of MR to grade ≤ 2. The studies performed in support of CE mark for both the
NeoChord and MitraClip devices reported 30 day response rates.
For the MitraClip device, data following treatment with the MitraClip implant demonstrated a
success rate for mitral regurgitation reduction to ≤ grade 2 in 58% (14/24 patients) at 30 days,
and 54% at 6 months (13/24 patients) (Feldman et al., 2005). In a subsequent randomised trial
of MitraClip compared to surgical treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, the success rate was
55% at 12 months (100/181 patients) (Feldman, et al., 2011).
For the initial CE Mark Study of the NeoChord DS1000, data from 30 patients at seven (7) study
centers at 30 days post-implant was evaluated in support of the CE Mark. In this study, the
primary composite outcome was assessed in patients in whom at least one chordae tendineae
was placed using the NeoChord DS1000 System. The composite endpoint consisted of the
following elements:
•
a reduction in mitral regurgitation ≤ 2+ at the time of the procedure AND
•
MR reduction of ≤ 2+ at 30 days AND
•
The rate of Major Adverse Events (MAE) defined as a combined endpoint of: death, MI,
reoperation for failed surgical repair, non-elective cardiovascular surgery to treat an
adverse event, procedural ventilation > 48 hours, procedure-related transfusion of > 2
units blood product, stroke, renal failure, deep wound infection, new onset of permanent
AF, and septicemia, through 30 days.
Based on this definition, the response rate was 57% (17/30 patients) (Seeburger et al., 2014). 
In two subsequent single-center reports, the composite success rate using the NeoChord 
DS1000 was 85% (11/13 patients) at 6 months post-procedure (Rucinskas, et al., 2014) and 
87% (54/62 patients) at 30 days post-procedure (Colli, et al., 2015). Combining these results, 
irrespective of the time of assessment of the primary endpoint, the average success rate 
among these studies is 68%, the standard deviation of the response rate is 15%, and the lower 
limit of one-sided 95% confidence intervals (CI) is approximately 50%. 
Page 23

An inferiority margin of 10% was selected as appropriate because it is a more stringent 
requirement than the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval of the average response rates 
in these previous studies. This non-inferiority delta reflects the diversity of the patients 
treated, the diversity of the causes of MR, the variety of non-beating heart methods available to 
treat MR, and the range of reported performance using similar techniques.   
Using the historical control (HC) rate of 68% and a non-inferiority margin of 10%, the null and 
alternative hypotheses of the primary performance endpoint can be written as: 
H0 :  πHarpoon_performance  ≤ πHC_performance 
HA : πHarpoon_performance >πHC_performance 
where, 
πHC_performance  = 68% historical control rate – 10% Delta 
πHarpoon_performance  = Harpoon Medical system success rate 
The hypotheses for the primary performance endpoint can be rewritten as: 
H0 :  πHarpoon_performance  ≤ HC % 
HA : πHarpoon_performance > 58% 
To achieve 90% power using a two-sided α of 0.05 (one-sided 0.025), the sample size was 
estimated based on a single sample compared to a constant (0.58). Based on this calculation, 26 
patients are required to demonstrate non-inferiority. To adjust for patients lost to follow-up, we 
have decided to enroll up to 30 patients in the TRACER Trial. Moreover, 30 patients has been a 
sufficient number of patients to provide a satisfactory profile of the adverse events likely to occur 
with beating heart mitral valve repairs in the aforementioned studies. Last, 30 patients is 
consistent with the sample size of previous beating heart, mitral valve repair devices. For 
example, the CE mark trial of the NeoChord DS1000 was conducted in 30 patients. 
These data from these 30 patients shall be used to assess the safety and performance of the 
device when used on a human patient. All data shall be captured on an intent-to-treat basis.  Data 
shall be reported as descriptive statistics. 
The percentage of patients with improvements in MR reduction at the conclusion of the procedure, 
at the time of the hospital dismissal and at 30 days, six months, one, two, three, four and five 
years will be assessed.  Specifically the percentage of patients that demonstrate MR reduction 
from “severe” to less than or equal to “moderate” at the conclusion of the procedure and at 30 
days.  While the number of subjects missing the primary endpoint of improvement in MR is 
anticipated to be small, if any, the following algorithm will be used to impute missing observations: 
•
Subjects who die prior to evaluation at 30 days or fail the procedure will be considered
failures for the primary analysis.
•
Patients lost after the procedure for other reasons will have their last observation carried
forward (from procedure to 30 days). Should this situation occur, an additional sensitivity
analysis, a tipping point analysis, will be conducted whereby each subject missing 30 day
follow-up will be counted as a failure in succession, and the number of subjects with
Page 24

missing data imputed as failures which “tip” the analysis to non-significance will be 
reported.   
Freedom from Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) during the ePTFE implantation procedure, at 
discharge, and at 30 days follow-up will be tabulated. The number of patients experiencing one 
or more AEs or SAEs at 30-days post-procedure, the percentage of patients, and the exact 95% 
confidence limit will be calculated.  Patients who die prior to 30 days will be considered failures 
for this analysis. 
Freedom from Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 
30 months and 36 months follow-up shall be tabulated. The number of patients experiencing one 
or more AEs or SAEs at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 48 
months and 60 months follow-up, the percentage of patients, and the exact 95% confidence limit 
will be calculated. 
These data shall be used to assess the safety and performance of the Harpoon Medical device, 
and are not designed to test a statistical hypothesis, and therefore a formal sample size has not 
been calculated.  All data shall be captured on an intent-to-treat basis.  Data shall be reported 
as descriptive statistics. 
Page 25

XI.
STUDY ORGANISATION
INVESTIGATIONAL SITE PERSONNEL
Investigator and co-investigators
The Investigator is responsible for ensuring that this trial is conducted according to this protocol
and that signed Informed Consent is obtained from each patient prior to their inclusion in this trial.
It is the Investigator’s responsibility to ensure that all staff assisting with this trial have the
appropriate qualifications and are fully instructed on the trial procedures and respect patient
confidentiality, as specified in the Investigator Agreement with the Sponsor.
The Investigator is responsible for ensuring that the conduct of the trial conforms to the EC and
Competent Authority (CA) requirements and provides all necessary communication with the EC
and CA including, but not limited to, annual trial reports and required adverse event notifications.
Specific responsibilities:
•
An Investigator shall conduct an investigation in accordance with the signed Investigator
Agreement with the Sponsor, the Protocol, applicable international regulations, and any
conditions of approval imposed by a local regulatory body, Ethical Committee (EC), or
Competent Authority.
•
The standardised Case Report Forms (CRFs) will be used to collect complete and
accurate records of the clinical data from the trial according to the International
Conference on Harmonisation (ICH)/WHO Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. The
Investigator is responsible for collecting and accurately recording the data generated for
this trial.
•
Investigators will maintain a screening log that will record the date of informed consent,
the date of screening, the enrollment status (enrolled/excluded) and the reason for
exclusion for all screen failures.
•
A participating Investigator shall maintain accurate, complete, and current records (listed
in detail in the Investigator Agreement) relating to the Investigator’s participation in the trial
for a period of 10 years or longer, as may be required by applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
•
An Investigator shall prepare and submit complete, accurate, and timely reports on
adverse events, withdrawal of EC approval, progress, deviations from the protocol,
informed consent, termination or completion of the trial, and other trial-related aspects
requested by the EC, Competent Authority or Sponsor representative. (These are
described in more detail in the Investigator Agreement.)
The Sponsor reserves the right to terminate this study at a given site or across all sites if any of 
the following situations occur: 
•
The rate at which patients are being entered into the study is insufficient as determined
by the Sponsor;
Page 26

•
Protocol compliance is poor as measured by the number of reported and monitored
protocol deviations and violations;
•
Data recording is inaccurate or incomplete on a chronic basis;
•
The incidence and/or severity of adverse events related to the use of the study device
indicate a potential increased risk to the safety and welfare of trial patients;
•
The Sponsor and/or the local Competent Authority mandate the termination of the study.
Study Coordinator 
Each site in the Mitral TRACER Trial is required to identify a Study Coordinator who will be 
responsible for, but not limited to, the following: 
•
Scheduling diagnostic and assessment procedures.
•
Informing all study team members of scheduled treatments.
•
Paging study team members on the morning of scheduled treatments to ensure that all
necessary personnel will be present.
•
Entering all study data into the Case Report Forms.
•
Maintaining a list of all patients screened for the trial and those who have entered the trial
and their patient numbers.
•
Maintaining the Device Accountability Log.
•
Scheduling all follow-up visits within the appropriate follow-up windows and ensuring that all
follow-up data is collected in accordance with the protocol.
CLINICAL MONITORING 
The clinical trial site(s) shall be monitored in accordance with policies at Harpoon Medical, Inc. 
and those federal regulations that pertain to clinical research; namely, ISO-14155, 21 CFR Parts 
50, and 56; and others as applicable. 
The Sponsor or its designated representative, qualified by training and experience, will be 
responsible for monitoring and overseeing the conduct of the trial. These responsibilities include 
maintaining regular contact with each Investigational site and conducting on-site monitoring visits 
at the Investigational site to ensure compliance with this Protocol, to verify that accurate and 
complete data are being submitted in a timely manner, and to verify that the Investigational site 
facilities continue to be adequate.  
Monitors are responsible for assuring that each Investigator and his/her staff clearly understand 
and accept their obligations under the clinical investigation through site visits, written 
communications and phone calls between the Monitor and the Principal Investigator and staff.   
During the course of the investigation, the Monitor shall assure that the Principal Investigator and 
his/her staff: 
•
Understand and agree to the requirements of the protocol;
Page 27

•
Agree to their obligations to conduct the study;
•
Accept the obligation to obtain informed consent using the Patient Information Sheet
approved by the REC;
•
Have access to an adequate number of suitable patients to conduct the investigation;
•
Have facilities adequate to conduct the clinical investigation; and
•
Have sufficient time to fulfill his/her obligations under the study;
During the course of a clinical investigation, the Monitor shall periodically visit the clinical 
investigation site to assure that:  
•
Changes to the protocol have been approved by the ethics committee and reported to
Sponsor, Inc. and the EC;
•
Adverse events (anticipated and unanticipated) are recorded and reported in
accordance with the spirit of Good Clinical Practices (GCPs), ISO-14155-1, Declaration
of Helsinki, and as per the Investigator Agreement;
•
Accurate, complete, and current records are being maintained;
•
Patient confidentiality of records and study participation are being maintained; and
•
Accurate, complete and timely reports are being made to Sponsor and to the EC.
Patient information shall remain confidential. Should any new knowledge about the patients’ 
medical condition become known, it will be dealt with in the usual confidential fashion. Any data 
that may be published in scientific journals will not reveal the identity of the patients. Data retrieved 
(case report forms, surgery reports, discharge summaries, laboratory and test reports, etc.) from 
the site will identify patients by their patient number / patient name code only.   
CLINCAL ENDPOINT COMMITTEE 
A Clinical Endpoint Committee (CEC) is responsible for adjudicating all SAEs including device 
deficiencies which may lead to SAE through the 36 month follow-up.  In addition all confirmed 
SAEs are assessed in regards to relationship to the Harpoon device and Index procedure.   
The Sponsor’s Safety Department manages all CEC preparation activities according to an 
approved CEC Charter. 
Adjudicated data is used for a final analysis. If event is not adjudicated, site reported data is 
used. 
STUDY ADMINISTRATION 
Harpoon Medical, Inc. will make necessary efforts to ensure that this study is conducted in 
compliance with Good Clinical Practices (GCPs) and all applicable regulatory requirements. 
Source Documentation 
The Investigator must maintain detailed source documents on all trial patients who are enrolled 
in the trial or who undergo screening. Source documents include patient medical records, hospital 
charts, clinic charts, Investigator’s patient trial files, as well as the results of diagnostic tests (e.g., 
Page 28

laboratory tests) kept in an individual patient binder and stored in a secured and locked location 
and must be made available to the Monitor during site visits. 
The following minimum information should be recorded in the patient’s medical records: 
•
The date the patient entered the trial and the patient number
•
The trial protocol number and the name of the Sponsor
•
The date that informed consent was obtained
•
Evidence that the patient meets trial eligibility requirements (e.g., medical history, trial
procedures and/or evaluations)
•
The dates of all trial related patient visits
•
Evidence that required procedures and/or evaluations were completed
•
Use of any concurrent medications
•
Documentation of specific device used, if any
•
Occurrence and status of any Adverse Events
•
The date the patient exited the trial, and a notation as to whether the patient completed
the trial or was discontinued, including the reason for discontinuation
Criteria for Terminating a Study 
Harpoon Medical, Inc. reserves the right to terminate the study at any time.  The reasons for 
exercising the right would be for valid scientific or administrative reasons related to protection of 
the safety, rights or welfare of patients. Investigators and associated EC and CA will be notified 
in writing in the event of termination. 
Possible reasons for study termination include but are not limited to: 
•
The discovery of an unexpected, significant, or unacceptable risk to the patients enrolled
in the study
•
A decision on the part of Harpoon Medical, Inc. to suspend or discontinue development of
the device
Criteria for Suspending/Terminating a Study Center 
Harpoon Medical, Inc. reserves the right to stop the screening of patients at a study center at any 
time after the study initiation visit if no patients have been enrolled or if the center has multiple or 
severe protocol violations without justification or fails to follow remedial actions. 
Possible reasons for suspending/terminating a study center include, but are not limited to: 
•
Repeated failure to complete case report forms prior to scheduled monitoring visits
•
Failure to obtain written Informed Consent
•
Failure to report SAEs/UADEs to Harpoon Medical within 24 hours of knowledge
•
Loss of (or unaccounted for) investigational product inventory
Protocol Deviations and Violations 
A protocol deviation is defined as an accidental or unintentional changes to, or non-compliance 
with the research protocol that does not increase risk or decrease benefit or; does not have a 
Page 29

significant effect on the patient's rights, safety or welfare; and/or on the integrity of the data. 
Deviations may result from the action of the patient, researcher, or research staff.  
A deviation may be due to the research patient’s non-adherence, or an unintentional change to 
or non-compliance with the research protocol on the part of a researcher.  
Protocol Violation is a divergence from the protocol that materially reduces the quality or 
completeness of the study data, makes the Informed Consent Form inaccurate, or materially 
impacts a patient's safety, rights, or welfare. 
Investigators are required to obtain prior approval from MedPass Limited before knowingly 
deviating from the protocol, except where necessary to protect the life or physical well-being of a 
patient in an emergency. Such approval shall be documented in writing and maintained in clinical 
study management and Investigator files. Prior approval is generally not expected in situations 
where unforeseen circumstances are beyond the Investigator’s control, (e.g., patient was not 
available for scheduled follow-up office visit, blood sample lost by laboratory, etc.); however, the 
event is still considered a deviation and will be reported via the appropriate CRF. 
Protocol deviations and violations must be reported to the Sponsor regardless of whether 
medically justifiable, pre-approved by MedPass Limited or taken to protect the patient in an 
emergency. Patient specific deviations will be reported on the Protocol Deviation case report form. 
Non-patient specific deviations, (e.g., unauthorised use of an investigational device outside the 
study, unauthorised use of an investigational device by a physician who has not signed an 
Investigator agreement or not been trained in the use of the device, etc.), will be reported to 
Harpoon Medical.  Investigators are also required to report deviations and violations to their EC 
and CA, where required, in accordance with their specific reporting policies and procedures.  
Copies of these reports should be maintained in the site regulatory binder and will be reviewed 
by the Monitor. 
Regulations require that Investigators maintain accurate, complete and current records, including 
documents showing the dates of and reasons for each deviation from and violation of the protocol. 
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: RECORDS RETENTION POLICY 
Sponsor  
The Sponsor will maintain copies of correspondence, data, shipment of devices, serious adverse 
device effects and other records related to the clinical trial.   
Site 
The Sponsor and clinical sites will maintain all records pertaining to this study for a period of 
seven years following the date on which the investigation is terminated or completed, or the date 
that the records are no longer required for purposes of supporting a regulatory submission. If the 
reviewing Ethics Committee or Competent Authority retention policy is longer than seven years, 
record retention will be mandated under those respective policies.  Record retention dates will be 
provided to all concerned by the Sponsor. 
Ethics Committee (EC) and Competent Authority (CA) Approval 
Page 30

A center my initiate enrollment in the Mitral TRACER Trial only after the Sponsor has received 
written approval  from the appropriate Ethics Committee. Amendments to the protocol should be 
submitted to the Ethics Committee for either notification or approval. Regulatory and local 
approvals must be obtained prior to enrolment of the first patient. The Sponsor will arrange 
regulatory and local approvals for the study. 
The Sponsor or its Monitor (MedPass International) will require a copy of any EC and CA 
correspondence, as well as the final approval letter from the EC and CA, where applicable.  These 
communication will be kept in the regulatory communication binder at each participating site.  
DATA QUALITY ASSURANCE 
Case Report Forms specific to the Mitral TRACER Trial will be used for the collection and 
recording of data at the Investigational site. Investigators are responsible for the timely completion 
and submission of these forms to the Clinical Monitor, but in any event submission must be made 
before payment to the Investigational site is required. All CRFs will be collected by MedPass 
Limited and entered into a database. All case report forms received will be reviewed, tracked and 
filed. Prior to data entry, a pre-entry review will be conducted to ensure that mandatory fields have 
been completed. Incoming data will be reviewed to identify inconsistent or missing data and 
adverse events. Data problems will be addressed through written communication with the 
investigational site and/or during site visits. The Investigator will be queried on errors concerning 
data completeness and consistency. All hard copy forms and data files will be secured to ensure 
confidentiality. 
Investigators are to maintain all source documents, including diagnostic test reports, laboratory 
results, completed case report forms, supporting medical records and informed consent. The 
source documents will be referenced during monitoring visits to verify the information documented 
on the case report forms.   
SPONSOR 
The responsibilities of the Sponsor include obtaining regulatory and local approvals before the 
start of the trial, obtaining liability insurance according to local regulations, obtaining the signed 
Investigator’s Agreements, reviewing significant new trial-related information, reporting 
unanticipated adverse events to the authorities in accordance with the Sponsor’s Quality 
Procedures, maintaining copies of correspondence, data, shipment of product and other records 
related to the clinical trial. The Sponsor may delegate one or all of these tasks; however, it remains 
the Sponsor’s responsibility to adequately supervise any designee acting on their behalf to ensure 
compliance to all applicable procedures, laws and regulations. 
STATEMENT OF INSURANCE POLICY 
Harpoon Medical, Inc. shall, at its own expense, carry and maintain professional and general 
liability insurance from a carrier in amounts sufficient to cover the indemnification obligations 
assumed hereunder, but in no event less than $500,000 per occurrence and $5 million in the 
aggregate. Harpoon Medical, Inc. shall provide evidence of insurance to the investigational site 
promptly upon execution of the Investigator Agreement. 
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XII.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI
This study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (see Appendix A).
PATIENT INFORMATION AND INFORMED CONSENT
Patient Information and Informed Consent documents (including the Patient Information sheet)
will be submitted to the local site’s Ethical Committee for approval prior to initiation of the study.
A copy of the consent form approved by the local clinical site’s Ethics Committee should be
forwarded to MedPass and Sponsor for review and approval, and will be maintained in the official
clinical files. All signed consent forms will be reviewed by the Monitor to ensure that only the
approved version is being used.
Patients eligible for the study will receive detailed written information on the trial, after which they
will be asked to give written informed consent in accordance with the local clinical site’s Ethics
Committee. Oral consent is not an acceptable substitute. The patient should be asked to sign a
consent form prior to undergoing any study-required procedures or assessments. A copy of the
Patient Informed Consent document and the Patient Information Sheet will be given to the patient.
The date and time that consent is obtained must be documented on the consent form and 
in the patient’s medical record. 
PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY 
All information concerning patients or their participation in this trial will be considered confidential. 
Only authorised Harpoon Medical personnel and designated consultants and regulatory agencies 
will have access to these confidential files. Enrolled patients will be assigned a unique identifier 
that will be used to maintain confidentiality of each patient’s medical information. Patient names 
and other protected health information will not be captured on the case report forms. In addition, 
angiographic and ultrasonic images submitted from the participating site to the Sponsor or 
angiographic reviewers for analysis should be redacted from all patient identifiers. 
ETHICS COMMITTEE 
A center my initiate enrollment in the Mitral TRACER Trial only after the Sponsor has received 
copies of the written approval of the protocol and Patient Informed Consent from the appropriate 
Ethics Committee. Any subsequent amendment to the protocol should be submitted to the Ethics 
Committee for either notification or approval. 
REGULATORY APPROVAL 
Regulatory and local approvals must be obtained prior to enrollment of the first patient. The 
Sponsor will arrange regulatory and local approvals for the study. 
Page 32

XIII.
QUALIFICATIONS OF STUDY CENTERS AND INVESTIGATORS
Each investigator must fulfill the following requirements prior to participation in this study:
1.
Be appropriately trained on the use of the Harpoon Medical device and procedure.
2.
Be willing to change their clinical / surgical routine if required by the protocol.
3.
Have an adequate medical Ethics Committee and be willing to comply with Good Clinical
Practice, and the European standard EN 540 for the conduct of clinical investigations of
medical devices.
4.
Be willing to fill out all relevant documentation (e.g. Case Report Form) in a suitable, legible
and timely manner, not to exceed 30 days, to allow analysis.
5.
Be willing to allow clinical monitors to enter at reasonable times for inspection of all records
pertaining to the trial.
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XIV.
PUBLICATION POLICY
Sponsor follows local regulatory requirements relating to clinical trial registration and disclosure
of results. In the United States, Harpoon Medical Inc. complies with requirements of the FDA
Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) to register the Mitral TRACER trial on www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Sponsor commits to seek publication of results of its completed applicable clinical trials on any
product that receives CE Mark in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, regardless of trial
outcome. Sponsor supports recognised standards concerning authorship and publication,
including those of the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) and CONSORT
(Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials).  In the event that the Sponsor decides not to CE
Mark the Investigational Medical Device for the intended purpose being investigated, the Sponsor
shall publish the analysis of the results within twenty four (24) months of the completion of the
Mitral TRACER Trial. In the case of Clinical Investigations closed on safety grounds, the Sponsor
shall publish the analysis of the results within twelve (12) months of the date of closure.
The Sponsor and the Investigators are committed to the publication and widespread
dissemination of the results of the study. This study represents a joint effort between Sponsor and
Investigators, and as such, the parties agree that the recommendation of any party concerning
manuscripts or text shall be taken into consideration in the preparation of final scientific
documents for publication or presentation. Patient to the terms of Confidentiality but not before
publication of the multi-center study results, Institution and the Investigator shall be free to publish,
present or use any results arising out of the performance of the study at their centers for their own
instructional, study or publication objectives, provided that such Publication does not disclose any
Confidential Information other than the results of the Study performed. At least one hundred and
eighty (180) days prior to submission for publication, presentation or use, Institution and the
Principal Investigator shall submit to Sponsor for review and comment any proposed oral or
written Publication, which period may be extended for an additional thirty (30) days if requested
in writing by Sponsor in the event that Sponsor provides reasonable need for such extension.
Expedited reviews for abstracts or poster presentations may be arranged if mutually agreeable to
Sponsor, Institution and the Principal Investigator.
Upon written notice to Institution that Sponsor reasonably believes that one or more patent
applications relating to an Invention (as defined above) should be filed prior to any Publication,
then such Publication will be delayed until such patent application(s) have been filed, provided
that Institution, Principal Investigator and Sponsor shall cooperate in expeditiously filing any such
patent application(s), and provided further that any such delay of a Publication shall not exceed
ninety (90) days from the date of such Sponsor notice to Institution and Principal Investigator.
Sponsor shall have the right to request modification of any Publication if in Sponsor's reasonable
opinion such Publication will jeopardise a patent application or patent.  Harpoon Medical Inc. has
the right to review all proposed publications and presentation materials for scientific integrity,
effect on clinical activities, and relevance to patent protection and partnership agreements.
Harpoon Medical Inc.  will not suppress publications or presentations, but reserves the right to
delay publications to avoid compromising intellectual property. Additionally, Harpoon Medical Inc.
reserves to right to delay publications of sub-analyses until after the publication of the main study
results.
Sponsor will provide final statistical reports of protocol-derived outcomes to external authors.
Sponsor reserves the right to review and comment on draft abstracts, manuscripts, presentations
and other communications by external investigators related to the Mitral TRACER Trial or a subset
Page 34

analysis of any patients enrolled in the Mitral TRACER Trial, prior to submission or public 
disclosure, in order to protect intellectual property and confidential information.  As study sponsor, 
Harpoon Medical, Inc. does not approve or veto such publications provided they are made after 
the publication of the main publication disclosing the multi-center trial results.   
Authorship and accountability: Per ICMJE recommendations, an author is generally 
considered to be anyone who provides substantive intellectual contributions to a published study. 
Specifically, authorship credit should be based on 1. substantial contributions to study conception 
and design, or acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, and 2. drafting the article or revising 
it critically for important intellectual content, and 3. final approval of the version to be published, 
and 4. agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work to ensure its accuracy and integrity. 
All four conditions should be met. Conversely, individuals who do not contribute in this manner do 
not warrant named authorship. Individuals who do not meet criteria for authorship but who 
contributed materially to the manuscript will be recognised in acknowledgments when the 
manuscript is published. In some cases, journals recognise contributors rather than authors. 
Patient to journal policy, we will list the names of all investigators at the end of a manuscript. Final 
authorship determination will be made the sponsor in accordance with ICMJE recommendations.  
Determination of meeting (for an abstract presentation) or journal (for a manuscript submission) 
will be mutually agreeable to Sponsor, Institution and the investigators. 
Page 35

XV.
REFERENCES
ClinicalTrials.gov registry number:  NCT01777815:  Safety and Performance Study of the NeoChord Suturing Device
in Subjects With Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease; Diagnosed With Severe Mitral Regurgitation
ClinicalTrials.gov registry number:  NCT01784055:  Post-Market Surveillance Registry for the NeoChord DS1000
Artificial chordae for degenerative mitral valve disease: critical analysis of current techniques
Ibrahim M, Rao C, Athanasiou T.
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Sur 2012 Dec; 15(6): 1019-32 Epub 2012 Sep
Mitral Valve Repair, a Clinical and Echocardiographic Study
Xu M, McHaffleDJ, Hilless AD.
Br Heart J 1994 Jan; 71(1)51-6
A simple approach to mitral valve repair, posterior leaflet height adjustment using a partial fold of the free edge
Abicht TO, Andrei AC, Druse J, McDonald E, Li Z, McCarthy PM 
J Thoracic Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Dec; 148(6) 2780-6 Epub 2014 Jul 22 
Transapical Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair. 
Seeburger J, Borger MA, Tschernich H, Leontjev S, Holzhey D, Noack T, Ender J, Mohr FW.: 
Circulation Cardiovascular Interventions. 2010; 3: 611-612 
Transapical neochord implantation. 
Seeburger J, Winkfein M, Höebartner M, Noack T, Kiefer P, Vollroth M, Leontjev S, Mohr FW. 
Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic Surgery. doi:10.1510/mmcts.2010.004606 
Off-pump transapical implantation of artificial chordae to correct mitral regurgitation: Early results of a single-center 
experience. 
Rucinskas K, Janusauskas V, Zakarkaite D, Aidietiene S, Samalavicius R, Speziali G, Aidietis A. 
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Jan;147(1):95-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.08.012. Epub 2013 Oct 5. 
Off pump transapical implantation of artificial chordae to correct mitral regurgitation (TACT trial) - proof of concept. 
Seeburger J, Rinaldi M, Nielsen SL, Salizione S, Lange R, Schoenburg M, Alfieri O, Borger MA, Mohr FW, Aiditeis K. 
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 Mar 11;63(9):914-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.07.090. Epub 2013 Sep 24 
Transapical neochord implantation: Is tension of artificial chordae tendinae dependent on the insertion site? 
Jensen H, Jensen MO, Waziri F, Honge JL, Sloth E, Fenger-Gron M, Nielsen SL. 
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Sep 13. pii: S0022-5223(13)00901-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.07.068. [Epub ahead 
of print] 
Early rupture of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene neochord after complex mitral valve repair: an electron 
microscopic analysis. 
Castillo JG, Anyanwu AC, El-Eshmawi A, Gordon RE, Adams DH. 
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Mar;145(3):e29-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.12.011. Epub 2013 Jan 12. No abstract 
available. 
Innovations in minimally invasive mitral valve pair. 
Sündermann SH, Seeburger J, Scherman J, Mohr FW, Falk V. 
Surg Technol Int. 2012 Dec;22:207-12. 
Chordal relocation for repair of anterior mitral leaflet flail: a reproducible option. 
Schaheen LW, Hayanga AJ, Badhwar V. 
Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg. 2014 Jan 1;2014(0):mmt021. doi: 10.1093/mmcts/mmt021. 
Tirone David valve-sparing aortic root replacement and cusp repair for bicuspid aortic valve disease. 
Kari FA, Liang DH, Kvitting JP, Stephens EH, Mitchell RS, Fischbein MP, Miller DC. 
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Mar;145(3 Suppl):S35-40.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.11.043. Epub 2012 Dec 20. 
Augmented reality image guidance improves navigation for beating heart mitral valve repair. 
Page 36

Chu MW, Moore J, Peters T, Bainbridge D, McCarty D, Guiraudon GM, Wedlake C, Lang P, Rajchl M, Currie ME, Daly 
RC, Kiaii B. 
Innovations (Phila). 2012 Jul-Aug;7(4):274-81. doi: 10.1097/IMI.0b013e31827439ea. 
A navigation platform for guidance of beating heart transapical mitral valve repair. 
Moore JT, Chu MW, Kiaii B, Bainbridge D, Guiraudon G, Wedlake C, Currie M, Rajchl M, Patel RV, Peters TM. 
IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2013 Apr;60(4):1034-40. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2012.2222405. Epub 2012 Oct 3. 
Trans-apical beating-heart implantation of neo-chordae to mitral valve leaflets: results of an acute animal study. 
Seeburger J, Leontjev S, Neumuth M, Noack T, Höbartner M, Misfeld M, Borger MA, Mohr FW. 
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011 May 17 
Trans-apical beating-heart implantation of neo-chordae to mitral valve leaflets: results of an acute animal study. 
Seeburger J, Leontjev S, Neumuth M, Noack T, Höbartner M, Misfeld M, Borger MA, Mohr FW. 
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Jan;41(1):173-6; discussion 176. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2011.03.058. 
Off pump transapical implantation of artificial chordae to correct mitral regurgitation (TACT trial) - proof of concept. 
Seeburger J, Rinaldi M, Nielsen SL, Salizione S, Lange R, Schoenburg M, Alfieri O, Borger MA, Mohr FW, Aiditeis K. 
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Sep 17. pii: S0735-1097(13)05160-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.07.090. [Epub ahead of print] 
Transapical neochord implantation. 
Seeburger J, Winkfein M, Höebartner M, Noack T, Kiefer P, Vollroth M, Leontjev S, Mohr FW. 
Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic Surgery. doi:10.1510/mmcts.2010.004606 
Acute safety and efficacy of the NeoChord Procedure  
A, Manzan E, Rucinskas K, Janusauskas V, Zucchetta F, Zakarkaite D et al.. 
Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2015; doi:10.1093/icvts/ivv014. 
Burden of valvular heart diseases: a population-based study. Nkomo VT, Gardin 
JM, Skelton TN, Gottdiener JS, Scott CG, Enriquez-Sarano M. Lancet 2006;3681005-11. 
Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals 
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). [Accessed September 17, 2013] 
Recommendations for evaluation of the severity of native valvular regurgitation with two-dimensional and Doppler 
echocardiography (Zoghbi et al, J Am Soc Echocardiography 2003; 16:777-802) 
Page 37

APPENDIX A: DECLARATION OF HELSINKI 
Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects 
Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964 
and amended by the: 
29th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 1975 
35th WMA General Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983 
41st WMA General Assembly, Hong Kong, September 1989 
48th WMA General Assembly, Somerset West, Republic of South Africa, October 1996 
52nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000  
53rd WMA General Assembly, Washington DC, USA, October 2002 (Note of Clarification 
added) 
55th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 2004 (Note of Clarification added) 
59th WMA General Assembly, Seoul, Republic of Korea, October 2008 
64th WMA General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013 
Preamble 
1.
The World Medical Association (WMA) has developed the Declaration of Helsinki as a
statement of ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, including
research on identifiable human material and data.
 The Declaration is intended to be read as a whole and each of its constituent 
paragraphs should be applied with consideration of all other relevant paragraphs. 
2.
Consistent with the mandate of the WMA, the Declaration is addressed primarily to
physicians. The WMA encourages others who are involved in medical research involving human
subjects to adopt these principles.
General Principles 
3.
The Declaration of Geneva of the WMA binds the physician with the words, “The health
of my patient will be my first consideration,” and the International Code of Medical Ethics
declares that, “A physician shall act in the patient's best interest when providing medical care.”
4.
It is the duty of the physician to promote and safeguard the health, well-being and rights
of patients, including those who are involved in medical research. The physician's knowledge
and conscience are dedicated to the fulfilment of this duty.
5.
Medical progress is based on research that ultimately must include studies involving
human subjects.
6.
The primary purpose of medical research involving human subjects is to understand the
causes, development and effects of diseases and improve preventive, diagnostic and
therapeutic interventions (methods, procedures and treatments). Even the best proven
interventions must be evaluated continually through research for their safety, effectiveness,
efficiency, accessibility and quality.
Page 38

7.
Medical research is subject to ethical standards that promote and ensure respect for all
human subjects and protect their health and rights.
8.
While the primary purpose of medical research is to generate new knowledge, this goal
can never take precedence over the rights and interests of individual research subjects.
9.
It is the duty of physicians who are involved in medical research to protect the life,
health, dignity, integrity, right to self-determination, privacy, and confidentiality of personal
information of research subjects. The responsibility for the protection of research subjects must
always rest with the physician or other health care professionals and never with the research
subjects, even though they have given consent.
10.
Physicians must consider the ethical, legal and regulatory norms and standards for
research involving human subjects in their own countries as well as applicable international
norms and standards. No national or international ethical, legal or regulatory requirement should
reduce or eliminate any of the protections for research subjects set forth in this Declaration.
11.
Medical research should be conducted in a manner that minimises possible harm to the
environment.
12.
Medical research involving human subjects must be conducted only by individuals with
the appropriate ethics and scientific education, training and qualifications. Research on patients
or healthy volunteers requires the supervision of a competent and appropriately qualified
physician or other health care professional.
13.
Groups that are underrepresented in medical research should be provided appropriate
access to participation in research.
14.
Physicians who combine medical research with medical care should involve their
patients in research only to the extent that this is justified by its potential preventive, diagnostic
or therapeutic value and if the physician has good reason to believe that participation in the
research study will not adversely affect the health of the patients who serve as research
subjects.
15.
Appropriate compensation and treatment for subjects who are harmed as a result of
participating in research must be ensured.
Risks, Burdens and Benefits
16.
In medical practice and in medical research, most interventions involve risks and
burdens.
 Medical research involving human subjects may only be conducted if the importance of 
the objective outweighs the risks and burdens to the research subjects. 
17.
All medical research involving human subjects must be preceded by careful assessment
of predictable risks and burdens to the individuals and groups involved in the research in
comparison with foreseeable benefits to them and to other individuals or groups affected by the
condition under investigation.
 Measures to minimise the risks must be implemented. The risks must be continuously 
monitored, assessed and documented by the researcher. 
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18.
Physicians may not be involved in a research study involving human subjects unless
they are confident that the risks have been adequately assessed and can be satisfactorily
managed.
 When the risks are found to outweigh the potential benefits or when there is conclusive 
proof of definitive outcomes, physicians must assess whether to continue, modify or 
immediately stop the study.       
Vulnerable Groups and Individuals 
19.
Some groups and individuals are particularly vulnerable and may have an increased
likelihood of being wronged or of incurring additional harm.
 All vulnerable groups and individuals should receive specifically considered protection. 
20.
Medical research with a vulnerable group is only justified if the research is responsive to
the health needs or priorities of this group and the research cannot be carried out in a non-
vulnerable group. In addition, this group should stand to benefit from the knowledge, practices
or interventions that result from the research.
Scientific Requirements and Research Protocols 
21.
Medical research involving human subjects must conform to generally accepted
scientific principles, be based on a thorough knowledge of the scientific literature, other relevant
sources of information, and adequate laboratory and, as appropriate, animal experimentation.
The welfare of animals used for research must be respected.
22.
The design and performance of each research study involving human subjects must be
clearly described and justified in a research protocol.
 The protocol should contain a statement of the ethical considerations involved and 
should indicate how the principles in this Declaration have been addressed. The protocol should 
include information regarding funding, sponsors, institutional affiliations, potential conflicts of 
interest, incentives for subjects and information regarding provisions for treating and/or 
compensating subjects who are harmed as a consequence of participation in the research 
study. 
 In clinical trials, the protocol must also describe appropriate arrangements for post-trial 
provisions. 
Research Ethics Committees 
23.
The research protocol must be submitted for consideration, comment, guidance and
approval to the concerned research ethics committee before the study begins. This committee
must be transparent in its functioning, must be independent of the researcher, the sponsor and
any other undue influence and must be duly qualified. It must take into consideration the laws
and regulations of the country or countries in which the research is to be performed as well as
applicable international norms and standards but these must not be allowed to reduce or
eliminate any of the protections for research subjects set forth in this Declaration.
 The committee must have the right to monitor ongoing studies. The researcher must 
provide monitoring information to the committee, especially information about any serious 
adverse events. No amendment to the protocol may be made without consideration and 
approval by the committee. After the end of the study, the researchers must submit a final report 
to the committee containing a summary of the study’s findings and conclusions.  
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Privacy and Confidentiality 
24.
Every precaution must be taken to protect the privacy of research subjects and the
confidentiality of their personal information.
Informed Consent 
25.
Participation by individuals capable of giving informed consent as subjects in medical
research must be voluntary. Although it may be appropriate to consult family members or
community leaders, no individual capable of giving informed consent may be enrolled in a
research study unless he or she freely agrees.
26.
In medical research involving human subjects capable of giving informed consent, each
potential subject must be adequately informed of the aims, methods, sources of funding, any
possible conflicts of interest, institutional affiliations of the researcher, the anticipated benefits
and potential risks of the study and the discomfort it may entail, post-study provisions and any
other relevant aspects of the study. The potential subject must be informed of the right to refuse
to participate in the study or to withdraw consent to participate at any time without reprisal.
Special attention should be given to the specific information needs of individual potential
subjects as well as to the methods used to deliver the information.
 After ensuring that the potential subject has understood the information, the physician or 
another appropriately qualified individual must then seek the potential subject’s freely-given 
informed consent, preferably in writing. If the consent cannot be expressed in writing, the non-
written consent must be formally documented and witnessed.       
 All medical research subjects should be given the option of being informed about the 
general outcome and results of the study. 
27.
When seeking informed consent for participation in a research study the physician must
be particularly cautious if the potential subject is in a dependent relationship with the physician
or may consent under duress. In such situations the informed consent must be sought by an
appropriately qualified individual who is completely independent of this relationship.
28.
For a potential research subject who is incapable of giving informed consent, the
physician must seek informed consent from the legally authorised representative. These
individuals must not be included in a research study that has no likelihood of benefit for them
unless it is intended to promote the health of the group represented by the potential subject, the
research cannot instead be performed with persons capable of providing informed consent, and
the research entails only minimal risk and minimal burden.
29.
When a potential research subject who is deemed incapable of giving informed consent
is able to give assent to decisions about participation in research, the physician must seek that
assent in addition to the consent of the legally authorised representative. The potential subject’s
dissent should be respected.
30.
Research involving subjects who are physically or mentally incapable of giving consent,
for example, unconscious patients, may be done only if the physical or mental condition that
prevents giving informed consent is a necessary characteristic of the research  group. In such
circumstances the physician must seek informed consent from the legally authorised
representative. If no such representative is available and if the research cannot be delayed, the
Page 41

study may proceed without informed consent provided that the specific reasons for involving 
subjects with a condition that renders them unable to give informed consent have been stated in 
the research protocol and the study has been approved by a research ethics committee. 
Consent to remain in the research must be obtained as soon as possible from the subject or a 
legally authorised representative. 
31.
The physician must fully inform the patient which aspects of their care are related to the
research. The refusal of a patient to participate in a study or the patient’s decision to withdraw
from the study must never adversely affect the patient-physician relationship.
32.
For medical research using identifiable human material or data, such as research on
material or data contained in biobanks or similar repositories, physicians must seek informed
consent for its collection, storage and/or reuse. There may be exceptional situations where
consent would be impossible or impracticable to obtain for such research. In such situations the
research may be done only after consideration and approval of a research ethics committee.
Use of Placebo 
33.
The benefits, risks, burdens and effectiveness of a new intervention must be tested
against those of the best proven intervention(s), except in the following circumstances:
 Where no proven intervention exists, the use of placebo, or no intervention, is 
acceptable; or 
 Where for compelling and scientifically sound methodological reasons the use of any 
intervention less effective than the best proven one, the use of placebo, or no intervention is 
necessary to determine the efficacy or safety of an intervention and the patients who receive 
any intervention less effective than the best proven one, placebo, or no intervention will not be 
subject to additional risks of serious or irreversible harm as a result of not receiving the best 
proven intervention.  
 Extreme care must be taken to avoid abuse of this option. 
Post-Trial Provisions 
34.
In advance of a clinical trial, sponsors, researchers and host country governments
should make provisions for post-trial access for all participants who still need an intervention
identified as beneficial in the trial. This information must also be disclosed to participants during
the informed consent process.
Research Registration and Publication and Dissemination of Results
35.
Every research study involving human subjects must be registered in a publicly
accessible database before recruitment of the first subject.
36.
Researchers, authors, sponsors, editors and publishers all have ethical obligations with
regard to the publication and dissemination of the results of research. Researchers have a duty
to make publicly available the results of their research on human subjects and are accountable
for the completeness and accuracy of their reports. All parties should adhere to accepted
guidelines for ethical reporting. Negative and inconclusive as well as positive results must be
published or otherwise made publicly available. Sources of funding, institutional affiliations and
conflicts of interest must be declared in the publication. Reports of research not in accordance
with the principles of this Declaration should not be accepted for publication.
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Unproven Interventions in Clinical Practice 
37.
In the treatment of an individual patient, where proven interventions do not exist or other
known interventions have been ineffective, the physician, after seeking expert advice, with
informed consent from the patient or a legally authorised representative, may use an unproven
intervention if in the physician's judgment it offers hope of saving life, re-establishing health or
alleviating suffering. This intervention should subsequently be made the object of research,
designed to evaluate its safety and efficacy. In all cases, new information must be recorded and,
where appropriate, made publicly available.
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