"Bet BSX wishes that they had skipped ACC2013," wrote 1 wag today at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting, after Boston Scientific presented clinical trial results showing that its Watchman device is safer and more effective than the anticoagulant drug Warfarin.
The news sent BSX shares to $8.25 apiece today, up 10.9% over yesterday’s $7.44-per-share close, representing a new 52-week high for the stock. Shares were trading at $8.23 as of about 3:25 p.m., up 5.1% for the day.
It’s a turnabout for Boston Scientific and the Watchman device, after the American College of Cardiology spiked a planned presentation of data from another trial at its annual conference when the Natick, Mass.-based company inadvertently broke an embargo on the data.
"Bet BSX wishes that they had skipped ACC2013," wrote Dr. Edward Schloss today on Twitter, in reference to the ACC imbroglio. "Watchman looks better 2nd time around."
Boston Scientific said 4-year results from the 707-patient trial, comparing Watchman with Warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, "achieved superiority for the combined endpoint of all stroke, cardiovascular or unexplained death and systemic embolism," according to a press release.
"The observed primary efficacy event rate was 2.3% and 3.8% in the Watchman and control groups, respectively, demonstrating a 40% relative risk reduction in primary efficacy in the Watchman group," according to the release. "Secondary analysis also showed a relative risk reduction and superiority to control for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality."
All-cause mortality for the Watchman group was3.2%, compared with 4.8%m for the control group, for a 34% relative risk reduction, Boston Scientific said. Cardiovascular mortality rates for the Watchman cohort were 1.0%, compared with 2.4% for the control arm, for a 60% relative risk reduction, the company said.
"These data convincingly show that the Watchman device was superior to the current standard of care in these patients and demonstrated its potential to prevent stroke and save lives. The Watchman device underscores the Boston Scientific commitment to meaningful innovation and to providing the medical community with the tools it needs to improve patients’ lives," chief medical officer Dr. Kenneth Stein said in prepared remarks.
