Barclays weighs in on TAVI results for Edwards Lifesciences
Analysts at Barclays Capital weighed in on the news coming out of the American College of Cardiology conference this week, calling trial results for transcatheter aortic valve implantation systems "the most relevant data for investors."
Study results released from the high-risk cohort A of the Partner trial of Edwards Lifesciences’ (NYSE:EW) Sapien device found that TAVI stood up to surgical valve replacement at 2 years with no significant difference in stroke risk and no "late stroke hazard," although there was an increased risk of paravalvular leak.
"We view the data as a positive step for EW as it should allay some concerns around stroke rates over the long term and we think that fixing paravalvular leak could give EW the opportunity to improve outcomes in high risk patients (and PARTNER II)," Barclays analysts wrote. "Despite this, we remain cautious on EW based on our view that its US rollout will likely be slower than expected and we see the potential for risk around reimbursement requirements and implementation.
Wall Street remained cautious as well, and EW shares were down 1.9% to $72.65 as of about 10:20 a.m. today. Read more
Medtronic pacemaker may prevent fainting
There was more Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) news from ACC with the results from the med-tech titan’s Issue-3 study showing that pacing therapy may prevent fainting in patients prone to asystolic neurally mediated syncope, a condition in which the brain fails to properly regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Patients with the disorder may suddenly lose consciousness when blood pressure drops and not enough oxygen reaches the brain.
The use of cardiac pacing to prevent fainting is controversial, and the latest study turns the tables on 2 previous trials which found that pacemaker therapy didn’t help patients with asystolic NMS, according to a press release. The Issue-3 study considered pacing therapy among older patients with severe asystolic NMS, finding a 57% reduction in fainting spells with pacemaker therapy.* Read more
iRhythm touts study results for Zio Patch cardiac rhythm monitoring
iRhythm Technologies unveiled the results of a 3-year study of its flagship Zio Patch cardiac monitoring system, which proved to increase diagnostic yield in arrhythmia detection, according to a press release.
The Zio Patch is a wearable arrhythmia diagnostic device designed for up to 14 days of monitoring. Read more
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*Updated March 28 at 2:20 p.m. to reflect that Medtronic’s Issue-3 study specifically addressed asystolic neurally mediated syncope.
