On the heels of diminishing revenue for the makers of coronary stent, increasing competition because of innovative technology from the likes of Abbott Vascular, market leaders like Boston Scientific and Johnson and Johnson are taking a beating.
Image from Boston Scientific
Bloomberg.com reports on a New England Journal of Medicine study which states stating-Using heart stents to prop open diseased arteries has little advantage over medicines, exercise and a better diet, according to researchers who said the devices should be a last resort for most patients.
Stents provided patients an ``incremental'' benefit in reduced pain and fatigue in a study published online yesterday by the New England Journal of Medicine. By three years, the devices lost any advantage over a regimen of anti-cholesterol drugs, increased exercise and a diet plan, the study found. An accompanying editorial said one-third of the 1 million stents implanted in the U.S. each year may be unnecessary.
Strong words I must say and the study could prove detrimental to the industry if this gains a philosophical foothold.
The study is reported on Reuters.com and AHN.com
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