Drug Stents: J&J Innovates, Others Stumble

In traditional coronary stents, Cordis/J&J initially dominated the market, only to dramatically lose market share because of its inability to come up with a next generation product quickly enough, before becoming competitive again. In drug-eluting stents, which look to be the next blockbuster cardiovascular product, J&J again has an early lead, but this time its competitors have stumbled.

Few companies have gone through what Cordis Corp. , Johnson & Johnson's interventional cardiology operating company, has gone through in coronary stents. In the mid 1990s, the company quickly captured 90% of a booming market with the only coronary stent approved. But when the company failed to deliver a viable second-generation stent and competitors cleared regulatory hurdles much faster than anyone anticipated, Cordis lost virtually its whole stake in the market. Yet Cordis has made a remarkable comeback, rebounding to regain more than a 25% market share, by most estimates, battling Medtronic AVE Inc. for the number two spot behind stent market leader, Guidant Corp. (See "Resurrecting Cordis," IN VIVO, March 2001 [A#2001800056)

Now, as clinicians and cardiovascular device companies await what is widely predicted to be medical device's next blockbuster, drug-eluting stents, Cordis hopes to reverse that previous pattern. Yes, the company...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Innovation

Finding The Fire: AltruBio’s Novel Approach To Autoimmune Disease

 
• By 

CEO Judy Chou brings big pharma experience to tackle chronic inflammation with the company's first-in-class PSGL-1 targeting therapy.

Late-Stage GLP-1 Drug Trials Outside The Cardiometabolic Space

 
• By 

A look at Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and other companies' late-stage clinical studies of GLP-1 drugs in indications ranging from neurodegeneration to oncology, and alcoholic liver disease to autoimmune conditions.

AI In Health Delivery: Patients Most Confident When HCPs Are In Charge

 
• By 

Annual survey of patients and professionals shows how attitudes to health system transformation are evolving and what stakeholders are demanding as acceptance of AI tools accelerates.

Medtech Innovators Court London-Based Investors At BioWales 2025

 
• By 

BioWales in London 2025 showcased the efforts healthtech innovators are making to meet investors on their own turf, illustrating changing attitudes and evolving needs.

More from In Vivo

Medtech Innovators Court London-Based Investors At BioWales 2025

 
• By 

BioWales in London 2025 showcased the efforts healthtech innovators are making to meet investors on their own turf, illustrating changing attitudes and evolving needs.

Rising Leaders 2025: Metsera’s Whit Bernard’s Musical Path To Biotech Leadership

 
• By 

Metsera CEO Whit Bernard applies an unconventional leadership philosophy to develop next-generation obesity therapeutics, including monthly GLP-1 injections and oral peptides.

UK Bets On Regulatory Innovation As Competitive Advantage In Synthetic Biology

 
• By 

The UK government has prioritized synthetic biology and created a "concierge service" for biotechs just as the US cuts science funding.