Cheaper drug-eluting stent fares as well as Xience

^{M. Alexander Otto/MDedge News}

Dr. David Cohen

Because the trial was designed with India’s regulatory environment in mind, it is unlikely to be applicable to marketing approval in the United States, but such inexpensive stents could be coming. They may drive down prices, but they could also have a dark side, according to Dr. Cohen. “The companies that make these kinds of stents don’t do the kind of innovation we’ve come to expect in the field. I don’t know if they can support the R&D programs that the companies that we currently use [can support],” he said.

TALENT was sponsored by SMT, which manufactures Supraflex, and by the European Clinical Research Institute. Dr. Serruys has consulted for, received honoraria from, or served on the speaker’s bureau for Abbott. Dr. Cohen has received grant support from Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Corvia Medical, and Svelte. He has consulted for, received honoraria, or served on the speaker’s bureau for Edwards Lifesciences and Medtronic.