Abbott launches drug-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold Absorb

Abbott is launching its groundbreaking new Absorb vascular scaffold across 30 countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

The device is the world's first drug-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold and represents a new means of treating coronary artery disease, the efficacy of which has been proven in clinical trials.

It restores blood flow to the heart in a similar fashion to a metallic stent before dissolving into the body, leaving behind a treated vessel that can resume a more natural function and movement.

As such, it can expand and contract to increase the flow of blood as necessary, while this method also means that patients experience fewer limitations on treatments in future.

John Capek, executive vice-president for medical devices at Abbott, said: "We are proud to be the first company to commercialise a drug-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold, which has the potential to revolutionise the way physicians treat their patients with coronary artery disease."

Last week, the company was named as one of the top 20 biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry employers by the medical journal Science.