Researchers report encouraging results from trial of innovative stent

A six-month clinical trial on a new-generation thin strut fully dissolvable stent had shown "encouraging results", in what may be a boon for the treatment of coronary artery disease, which is a global killer, PTI reported. 

"The innovative design of the MeRes100 scaffold developed in India addresses some of the limitations of currently available bioresorbable stents (BRS) and may have higher success and lower complication rates in the long-term," said Dr Ashok Seth, chairman of the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI), who led the study. 

The findings of the stent's trial were presented by Seth at a global conference -- The Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2016, which ended Wednesday in the US. 

Coronary heart disease or ischaemic heart disease, a cardiovascular disease is caused by the narrowing  of coronary arteries due to a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls. 

"A total of 108 patients (116 lesions) were enrolled as part of a single-arm trial of MeRes100 bioresorbable stents (dissolvable stents) spread across 16 sites in the country from May 2015 to April 2016, which included hospitals from both public and private sector," a senior official from Fortis Hospitals group said. 

''This is a big day for India and the 'Make in India' program. It also reveals to the world that our Indian device industry has the ability to be innovative, creative and support high quality research. The innovative design of the MeRes100 scaffold developed in India addresses some of the limitations of currently available Bio Resorbable Stents (dissolvable stents) and may have higher success and lower complication rates in the long term.

"It would also cost much lesser than the currently available dissolvable stents and therefore give more benefit to higher number of patients. The MeRes-1, first-in-man study demonstrates that this new generation thinner strut sirolimus eluting BRS is both safe and effective at six months. These encouraging results provide the basis for further studies using wider range of length and sizes in more complex and larger patient population.''