Boston Scientific presents data showing drug-eluting stent safety

Boston Scientific has presented the results of an investigation showing the safety of its Taxus paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent. The trial showed it was as safe as bare-metal stents while exhibiting greater efficacy in both keeping arteries open and lowering the necessity for repeat procedures.

The data was presented to a panel of Food and Drug Administration assembled experts following concerns regarding the incidence of blood clots in patients implanted with drug-eluting stents.

Dr Donald S Baim, chief medical and scientific officer for Boston Scientific, said: “When used for approved indications, the Taxus stent is twice as effective as bare-metal stents in keeping vessels open, helping patients stay healthy avoid restenosis and the need for repeat procedures.”

He added that the small clotting events leading to heart attacks were counterbalanced by the role of the Taxus stent in reducing restenosis-related heart attacks and deaths.

Furthermore, it was noted that the number of deaths in the patient group administered with Taxus stents was equal or lower than those with bare-metal stents during the four years after they were implanted.

This week, Boston Scientific also presented the results of its 7,000 patient Arrive studies, claiming that patients treated with Taxus stents had lower or similar incidence of death and heart attacks when compared with traditional treatment, such as bypass surgery.