Medtronic FDA Approval Marks a Turnaround in the Paclitaxel Story

Paclitaxel-coated balloons and paclitaxel-eluting stents caused quite the stir for manufacturers and physicians this year, but an FDA approval this week marks a major step forward for this category of devices. The agency approved Medtronic's IN.PACT AV drug-coated balloon for the treatment of failing arteriovenous access in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis. AV fistulae are created and used to enable hemodialysis for patients with ESRD. Over time, vessel restenosis limits the ability to use AV fistulae effectively. In order to restore function, patients often undergo one to three maintenance procedures per year, which can result in significant disruptions to critical hemodialysis care and increased costs to the healthcare system. Pivotal randomized trial results from the IN.PACT AV Access trial have shown IN.PACT AV drug-coated balloon (DCB) can extend the time between reinterventions by maintaining AV access site patency, therefore maximizing a patient’s uninterrupted access to life-saving dialysis care. “In many cases, AV fistula are considered lifelines for patients with ESRD as they are the primary access point for life-saving dialysis treatment. When these access sites fail, patients experience delays in their dialysis treatment and require multiple reinterventions to keep the site functioning,” said Vincent Gallo, MD, intervent...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Source Type: news