New Theory to Drug Coated Stent Danger
January 10, 2007 10:31

Researchers may have discovered why drug-coated stents can cause potentially fatal blood clots to form in the coronary arteries. The stents may hinder the heart's natural ability to form collateral blood vessels that can salvage heart muscle by re-routing the blood supply. In a study of 120 patients, there was a 30 to 40 per cent less collateral blood vessel function in those implanted with the drug-coated stents, compared with the bare-metal stents, six months after implantation.

The theory was submitted by Swiss researchers and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Johnson & Johnson Gets OK to Buy Stent Maker
January 12, 2007 10:31

Johnson & Johnson received clearance from U.S. antitrust regulators to complete its $1.4 billion acquisition of Conor Medsystems Inc., a maker of heart devices.

The proposed transaction is expected to close after a meeting of Conor stockholders set for Jan. 31.

Conor Medsystems, based in Menlo Park, Calif., develops drug-coated stents that use absorbable materials to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Drug-coated stents from Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific Corp. were linked to blood clots in recent studies, and third-quarter sales of the devices fell. Conor's stent, which delivers multiple drugs through a coating later absorbed by the body, would give Johnson & Johnson a product that hasn't shown the same risk in trials.