MASSDEVICE ON CALL —Biosensors’ BioMatrix Flex drug-eluting stent with a biodegradable coating proved to reduce the risk of cardiac events compared with stents with durable coating, according to the company.
The study demonstrated for the first time the "proof of concept" that drug-eluting stents with resorbable polymer were better for patients.
Biosensors compared its BioMatrix biolimus-eluting stent against Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE:JNJ) Cypher Select sirolimus-eluting stent with a durable polymer.
The two stents were about even at 9 months, but the BioMatrix showed better rates of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and revascularization after 4 years, according to a study published in The Lancet.
GE and Univ. Calif. at Santa Cruz team up on cord blood project
GE Healthcare and the University California at Santa Cruz joined forces on a $840,000 project aimed at making blood-forming stem cells available for patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, according to a press release.
New Jersey Rep. calls on FDA to help med-tech industry create more jobs
New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone (D), whose home state has seen a 14 percent jump in med-tech manufacturing jobs in the last few years, called for increased predictability and transparency at the FDA to facilitate job growth in the medical device industry, Cardiovascular Business reported.
Health care jobs show steady increase for past 20 years
Dept. of Labor figures show steady growth in health care jobs since 1990, even in periods of recession and increasing unemployment, according to MedCity News.
Breast implants and other cosmetic procedures see an uptick during the holiday season
There appears to be a direct link between gift-giving seasons and spike in cosmetic procedures, especially in silicon-based breast implants, according to a press release from LocateADoc.com.