ATLANTA, March 15 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson's Cypher drug-coated stent led to significantly fewer heart attacks, deaths and need for repeat procedures than Medtronic Inc's newer Endeavor stent using a different drug, according to a head-to-head study conducted by Danish researchers.
Eighteen months after the stents were placed, 9.7 percent of Endeavor patients suffered cardiac death, heart attacks or target vessel revascularizations compared with 4.5 percent of those who received J&J's Cypher, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in Atlanta.
Medtronic questioned the data and study's design, calling it biased toward Cypher. The study was supported by grants from both companies.
Stents are tiny mesh tubes used to prop open arteries that have been cleared of blockages. The drug coating is used to help prevent reclogging.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot and Debra Sherman; Editing by Derek Caney) Keywords: HEART MEDTRONIC/JANDJ (bill.berkrot@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223-6030; Reuters Messaging: bill.berkrot.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Eighteen months after the stents were placed, 9.7 percent of Endeavor patients suffered cardiac death, heart attacks or target vessel revascularizations compared with 4.5 percent of those who received J&J's Cypher, according to data presented at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in Atlanta.
Medtronic questioned the data and study's design, calling it biased toward Cypher. The study was supported by grants from both companies.
Stents are tiny mesh tubes used to prop open arteries that have been cleared of blockages. The drug coating is used to help prevent reclogging.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot and Debra Sherman; Editing by Derek Caney) Keywords: HEART MEDTRONIC/JANDJ (bill.berkrot@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223-6030; Reuters Messaging: bill.berkrot.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
