Covidien ($COV) touted successful results this week from a trial of its new drug-coated balloon for peripheral artery disease.
At Paris's EuroPCR event, a global gathering of cardiovascular specialists, Covidien unveiled the results of its Illumenate first-in-human trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of the drug-coated balloon technology, which features a paclitaxel-coated angioplasty balloon and a rapid-release drug delivery mechanism, according to a release. The device is designed to treat PAD by targeting blockages that form in a patient's leg arteries.
In the year-long, 50-patient study, the balloon showed 87% effectiveness without the need for further treatment and a 10% rate of adverse events. And to keep the ball rolling, Covidien is planning more large-scale trials of the device, which it acquired in January with its buyout of CV Ingenuity.
PAD occurs when leg arteries narrow or become blocked by plaque and can be painful and debilitating, potentially leading to amputation of the limb. The disease affects an estimated 27 million adults in Europe and North America, according to the release.
- here's the release
Editor's Corner: Paris, je stent: Fierce's 2013 EuroPCR coverage