Boston Scientific receives EU approval for Taxus stent

Boston Scientific has been granted regulatory approval in Europe for the Taxus Element stent, its new paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system.

The medical device firm received a CE Mark for the product, as well as an indication for the treatment of diabetes sufferers, after the stent proved its safety and efficacy in the recent Perseus clinical trial programme.

It is designed to offer greater strength and flexibility thanks to its innovative platinum chromium alloy-based design, while its advanced catheter delivery system also helps to improve drug distribution.

Hank Kucheman, executive vice-president and group president of cardiology, rhythm and vascular for Boston Scientific, said that treatments of this kind are increasingly important given the rising prevalence of diabetes.

He added: “This product’s unique mechanism of action helps to inhibit restenosis in high-risk patients with diabetes and we are pleased to offer it to these patients.”

Last month, Boston Scientific published its financial report for the first quarter of 2010, highlighting its continued success in the stent market as an indicator of positive progress.