Medtronic reports positive data from drug-eluting stent trial

Medtronic has published data from a new clinical trial that demonstrates the long-term benefits offered by drug-eluting stent technology to coronary artery disease patients.

The landmark Protect trial is the largest prospective randomised drug-eluting stent trial ever presented and was carried out to assess the risk posed by stent thrombosis, a severe adverse event associated with this type of treatment.

Involving more than 8,700 patients across three years of follow-up, the trial found that occurrences of stent thrombosis were extremely uncommon, thus demonstrating the long-term safety of the devices.

Results from this trial also show that stent thrombosis rates have fallen considerably in recent years, which could be due in part to better procedural techniques and patient selection.

Dr Wijns, an interventional cardiologist and co-director of the Cardiovascular Center in Aalst, Belgium, said: "Based on its excellent clinical outcomes and low rates of stent thrombosis through three years of follow-up, Protect confirms the long-term safety of percutaneous coronary intervention with these drug-eluting stents."

Earlier this week, the firm also reported positive data from a five-year trial of cardiac resynchronisation therapy technology it has been developing.