St Jude Medical to explore further benefits of renal denervation

St Jude Medical has announced plans for a new clinical trial that will assess whether renal denervation and medication can provide health benefits to hypertensive patients beyond lowering high blood pressure.

The landmark EnligHTNment trial will be the first large-scale study to examine long-term effects of renal denervation in patients with uncontrolled hypertension to see if this method can also reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke and death.

An international, multicentre, randomised, controlled study, EnligHTNment will utilise the EnligHTN Renal Denervation System from St Jude Medical and has the potential to pave the way for major changes in the treatment of this patient population.

Frank Callaghan, president of the St Jude Medical cardiovascular and ablation technologies division, said: "Like other landmark trials we have sponsored, this first-of-its kind study provides the opportunity to evaluate patient outcomes that matter the most."

Earlier this month, the company announced the first patient implant of its 25 mm Portico Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve as part of an ongoing European trial.