Boston Scientific welcomes new Taxus stent data

Boston Scientific has welcomed new data that confirms the safety and effectiveness of its Taxus drug eluting stents.

The study compared Taxus stents to Abbott Laboratories’ new Xience V everolimus-eluting stent – to be marketed by Boston Scientific as Promus – in a non-inferiority trial.

Using an endpoint of in-state stent loss at six months, scientists in the SPIRIT II trial found that the loss reported for the Xience V stent was 0.11mm and 0.36mm for the Taxus stent. Boston Scientific claims this study backs up previous clinical information about the Taxus stent.

Jeff Goodman, president of Boston Scientific, said: “SPIRIT II adds to the extensive body of clinical evidence from randomised trials that reinforce the excellent safety and efficacy of the Taxus stent system, and provides solid traction for growth of the Promus stent.”

“The Taxus stent continues to demonstrate exceptional deliverability and the proven clinical outcomes that make it the leading drug-eluting stent in virtually every market where we offer the product,” he added.

Last week, Boston Scientific said the addition of the Promus stent to its portfolio would create the most comprehensive range of drug-eluting stents.

The company estimates that three million Taxus stents have implanted into patients across the world, while clinical follow-up has been performed on 4,000 patients in the Taxus trials.

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