Thin, Bioabsorbable Polymer Stent Promising in Early Trial

Baseline demographics and procedural characteristics were similar between treatment groups.

An "element of chance" was introduced in baseline lesion characteristics, with the half-dose Synergy group showing statistically significantly larger reference vessel diameters, averaging 2.65 mm, compared with 2.53 mm in the Promus Element group, Dr. Meredith said. Postprocedure angiography showed significantly greater in-stent and in-segment minimal lumen diameter, acute in-stent and in-segment gain, and in-segment stenosis diameter in the half-dose Synergy group, compared with the Promus Element group. "Again, most likely a play of chance," Dr. Meredith said.

The study was funded by Boston Scientific Corp., which makes all the stents used in the study. Dr. Meredith has been a consultant to Boston Scientific and Medtronic CardioVascular. One of his coinvestigators has received research funding from Boston Scientific and two other companies. Dr. Waksman said he has no relevant conflicts of interest. Dr. Mehran has received honoraria or funds for consulting, speaking, or research from Bristol-Myers Squibb, The Medicines Company, AstraZeneca, and Ortho-McNeil.*

*This story was updated November 12, 2011.