Medtronic reports positive early results from drug-filled stent trial

Medtronic has announced early data showing the encouraging performance of its novel next-generation drug-filled stent in a new study.

The 50-patient RevElution Trial has recently completed enrolment, with the results of the trial set to be used to support the company's application for European CE Mark approval of the new technology.

Early results unveiled at the 65th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology showed that the stent was associated with rapid vessel healing without inflammation after one month.

The stent functions by eluting the drug – in this case, sirolimus – through laser-drilled abluminal holes, allowing for a controlled and sustained drug elution directly into the arterial wall, thus eliminating potential drawbacks associated with bioabsorbable polymers and polymer-free technologies.

Jason Weidman, vice-president and general manager of the coronary and renal denervation business at Medtronic, said: "This breakthrough technology is a great example of our commitment to innovation through collaboration with physicians to address real unmet needs."

This comes after the firm enrolled the first patients for a new trial of its CoreValve Evolut R System last week.