Express Stent Set for Japan

Originally Published MX March/April 2004

BUSINESS NEWS

Boston Scientific Corp. (Natick, MA) announced that it received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare to market its Express² coronary stent system. The company plans to launch the product in Japan in early 2004. The product was launched in 2002 in Europe and other global markets.

In December, Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (Irvine, CA) entered into an agreement to acquire Percutaneous Valve Technologies Inc. (Fort Lee, NJ) for $125 million. Edwards Lifesciences develops minimally invasive alternatives for patients with heart valve disease.

St. Jude Medical Inc. (St. Paul, MN) submitted its final module and report from its resynchronization hemodynamic treatment for heart failure management implantable cardioverter- defibrillator study to FDA. The submission supports St. Jude's premarket approval applications for multiple cardiovascular devices.