Massachusetts medical device giant Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) is taking its S-ICD lead-free cardiac implant on tour, reaching new regions in Asia Pacific.
The device, which won FDA approval in 2012, has yet to hit markets in China, Japan or South Korea, but Boston Scientific is making inroads with the clinical community.
The 1st Asia S-ICD procedure was performed in China by the University of Hong Kong professor of cardiovascular medicine Dr. Hung Fat Tse, Boston Scientific announced this week.
"Most of the world’s population resides in Asia, which includes a high portion of unprotected patients at risk of [sudden cardiac arrest]," Boston Scientific executive vice president and Asia, Middle-East & Africa president Supratim Bose said in prepared remarks. "The S-ICD System highlights Boston Scientific’s commitment to bring meaningful innovation to patients and physicians in this critically important region."
Boston Scientific has been actively highlighting the S-ICD system in recent weeks. Earlier this year the medtech titan released positive real-world data on the device, which provides cardiac rhythm management without the needs for metallic wires, or leads, to be threaded through the heart.
In the 1st large, real-world clinical trial of the novel device, researchers followed more than 450 patients for an average of more than 1.5 years, reporting a 100% treatment rate for spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias and a 99.7% treatment rate for acute ventricular tachyarrhythmias at 12 months. The researchers also reported a 6.4% rate of inappropriate shocks, similar to results for traditional ICDs.
Boston Scientific acquired the S-ICD technology in June 2012 when it acquired Cameron Health in a deal worth $1.35 billion.
BSX shares closed at a 2.3% decline today, down 31¢ to $12.91 at the end of the day.