Johnson and Johnson announce Cypher research data

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Cordis has announced the preliminary results of its three-year research into the Cypher Sirolimus-eluting coronary stent. Early results indicate that for sufferers of multi-vessel coronary artery disease, the drug may be a long-term alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) that is less invasive than surgery.

Cordis sponsored the Arterial Revascularization Therapy Study II (ARTS II Study) in 1997 which investigated the results for CABG compared with those for bare-metal stents.

It was reported in a three-year follow up study that Cypher stents performed better than bare-metal stents, with similar results to patients with CABG. Severe event rate was lower for patients with Cypher stents than with CABG or bare-metal stents.

Dennis Donohoe, vice president of worldwide clinical and regulatory affairs at Cordis, said: “Patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease remain one of the most complex groups to treat.”

He added that the results of the ARTS II trials had considerably added to the understanding of the use of Cypher stent when compared with bare-metal stents and bypass surgery for these patients.

Cypher Sirolimus-eluting coronary stent is a piece of metal that is designed to open arteries and enable them to remain open by preventing re-narrowing after angioplasty, releasing anti-rejection medication and reducing the chance of reblocking.