Abbott launches new Absorb clinical study

Abbott is to commence a new clinical trial assessing the performance of its drug-eluting Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold, which recently made its European market debut.

The device's performance will be compared to the company's Xience family of drug-eluting stents among around 2,250 patients in the US with coronary artery disease, with the aim of evaluating its relative efficacy and safety.

Data from this study, entitled Absorb III, will be used to support the manufacturer's regulatory filings for the medical device in the US, following on from its successful introduction in the EU, Latin America and Asia.

The scaffold is made of polylactide, a naturally dissolvable material, meaning treated vessels may resume more natural function and movement than would be the case with a permanent metallic implant.

Dr Charles Simonton, divisional vice-president for medical affairs and chief medical officer at Abbott Vascular, said the company aims to "establish Absorb as a new therapeutic option to treat US patients with heart disease, the number one killer of men and women".

This comes a week after the Abbott organisation was split in two, with its pharmaceuticals division becoming an independent company called AbbVie.