The very same day it released results from a study comparing implantable cardioverter–defibrillators and cardiac-resynchronization therapy devices, Boston Scientific Corp. touted results from a second study demonstrating the effectiveness of the ICD devices.
Cardiac Rhythm Management
UPDATE: Boston Scientific shares surge, then slide on MADIT-CRT trial results
Boston Scientific Corp.‘s stock soared to its highest point in nearly a year on the results of a major study of its cardiac-resynchronization therapy devices, before falling back a little closer to earth.
Shares were trading at $11.55 as of about 9:30 a.m. Sept. 1, the closest its come to the $13.65 high posted Sept. 19, 2008, after a study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that the device reduced the risk of heart failure in 41 percent of patients in the trial, significantly improved its pumping efficiency but did not improve the risk of death.
Boston Scientific adds electrophysiologist to CRM unit
Boston Scientific Corp. tapped electrophysiologist Ken Stein to be senior vice president and associate chief medical officer of its cardiac rhythm management division.
Stein, the associate director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and a medicine professor at Cornell University, will oversee the development and execution of clinical strategy for the unit.
Fed court decision in Boston Scientific patent case has wide-ranging implications
A federal appeals court decision in Boston Scientific‘s long-running patent infringement battle with St. Jude Medical has wide-ranging implications for overseas sales of infringed patented products, according to news reports.
Boston Scientific, Medtronic, five others slapped with off-label lawsuits
Boston Scientific Corp.‘s notorious acquisition of Guidant Corp. is causing even more headaches for the Natick-based devices giant, now that a federal “qui tam” whistleblower lawsuit accuses the pair (and five other medical device makers including Medtronic Inc.) of promoting the off-label use of microwave cardiac ablation and potentially bilking millions from the Medicare system.
Boston Scientific says studies show real-world benefits of implantable CRM devices
Boston Scientific Corp. is touting a pair of studies it says indicate that implantable cardiac rhythm management devices perform better in the real world than they were predicted to in human clinical trials.
The studies, both of which were sponsored by the Natick-based devices leviathan, examined the real-world performance of its implantable cardioverter and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators. The results were presented in Boston at a Heart Rhythm Society conference.
Heart docs: Defibrillator leads need more oversight
A society of heart doctors wants manufacturers of defibrillator leads to improve monitoring of the devices once they hit the market, following Medtronic Inc.’s revelation that 13 patients died (subscription) after its Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads fractured.
The Heart Rhythm Society, which issued the recommendation at its conference this week in Boston, said manufacturers and the Food & Drug Administration need to cooperate in creating a post-market surveillance program for the devices.
Boston Scientific pledges to donate unused pacemakers to Heartbeat International
Boston Scientific Corp. pledged to donate unused pacemakers to Heartbeat International for needy patients overseas.
The charity group connects needy people in 22 countries with treatable heart disease, who can’t afford treatment, with devices and medical care to treat their conditions.
The Natick devices giant will donate cardiac rhythm management devices, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, and provide device programmers, programmer software and software updates.
Boston Scientific’s new defibrillator leads approved and implanted in Europe
Boston Scientific Corp. landed CE Mark approval from the European Union for its new Endotak Reliance 4-Site defibrillation lead system and announced the first human implants of the device in Europe.
The leads, which are insulated wires connecting an implantable defibrillator with the heart, are part of a suite of products the Natick devices giant acquired in its disastrous, $27 billion buyout of Guidant Corp.
Zoll Medical’s Q2 sales could use some reviving
Zoll Medical Corp.‘s second-quarter sales could use some reviving.
The Chelmsford resuscitation devices and software maker posted a 7 percent revenue slide, reporting a 37 percent decline in sales to the North American hospital market and a $5 million hit from unfavorable foreign exchange rates.
Quarterly sales reached $92.7 million, down 7 percent compared with $99.2 million during the same period last year.
Net income plummeted to $1.8 million down 68.5 percent compared with $5.7 million.
Boston Scientific’s Q1 sales slip 2 percent
First-quarter sales for Boston Scientific Corp. slipped 1.8 percent to $2.01 billion, compared with $2.05 billion during the same period last year, as it struggles with a large chunk of long-term debt and fights expensive legal battles on a number of fronts.
The Natick-based devices giant plunged into the red, posting a $13 million net loss for the quarter ending March 31, compared with net income of $322 million during the first quarter of 2008.