Abbott announces expansion of XIENCE V patient trial

Abbott has revealed that its post-approval study for XIENCE V will continue for longer than originally planned in a bid to encompass more patients in the trials.

This decision allows for a further 3,000 individuals to participate in Abbott’s study, which was originally designed to accommodate 5,000 people.

XIENCE V is used to treat coronary artery disease and works by propping open a narrowed or blocked artery before the drug, everolimus, is released in a controlled manner. This stops the patients’ artery from becoming blocked again in the aftermath of a stent procedure.

The additional candidates participating in the study may “also participate in [a] DAPT trial to help advance the body of scientific knowledge regarding the best duration for patients to take blood-thinning medications after a stent procedure”, explained Charles Simonton, divisional vice-president of medical affairs and chief medical officer of Abbott Vascular.

Abbott has been in operation for more than 120 years and has more than 72,000 employees worldwide.