Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Bests Taxus Stent

Patients with bifurcation lesions fared significantly better in a clinical trial when treated with the Cypher sirolimus-eluting coronary stent of Cordis Cardiology (Miami, FL, USA) than with the paclitaxel-eluting Taxus stent of Boston Scientific (Natick, MA, USA) in areas of late loss, re-treatment, and re-blockage.

The 205-patient randomized, comparative trial found that at six months, patients with bifurcations in the Cypher stent arm were three times less likely to experience restenosis than patients in the Taxus stent arm of the study. The late loss results in the main vessel and adjoining side branch also favored those patients treated with the Cypher stent.

The study results were presented at the annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in November 2005 in Dallas (TX, USA). The findings are supported by a clinical trial program that included more than 40 studies.

"The ability to achieve a sustained clinical benefit in tough-to-treat patients is a key consideration when choosing a drug-eluting stent,” said Dr. David R. Holmes, Jr., professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (Rochester, MN, USA). "It is reassuring to see data that documents that the Cypher stent performs reliably over the long haul, and does so with a strong safety profile. Results from randomized clinical trials like these are the true benchmarks in evidence-based medicine.”





Related Links:
Cordis Corp.
Boston Scientific