Covidien reports positive data from two-year Stellarex study

Covidien has announced two-year study data showing the safety and effectiveness of its Stellarex drug-coated angioplasty balloon for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

According to findings from the Illumenate First-in-Human Study, the device was associated with a primary patency rate – defined as the treated artery remaining open without further treatment or renewed blockages – of 82.3 percent at 24 months.

Moreover, freedom from clinically-driven target lesion revascularisation after two years was 87.9 percent, the same rate observed at 12 months. No amputations or cardiovascular deaths were reported among the study group.

This shows the effectiveness of Covidien's device in the treatment of a painful and physically limiting condition affecting millions of people around the world.

Dr Mark Turco, chief medical officer for vascular at Covidien, said: "Illumenate's long-term results represent some of the best 24-month patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization rates seen in first-in-human studies to date."

Last month, the company announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2014, during which it experienced year-on-year net sales growth of four percent.