Boston Scientific Corp.’s unique two-drug strategy has propelled the company to a leadership position in drug-eluting stents (DES) with, according to some estimates, more than 50% of the market. Yet the company is not relying on the current configurations of or the current manufacturing approaches for its Taxus (using paclitaxel) and Promus (which employs everolimus) stents to sustain its position on top of this highly competitive product area. With its acquisition this month of Galway, Ireland-based Labcoat Ltd. (terms of which were not disclosed), BSC is laying the groundwork for technology that may well define its next generation of drug-eluting stents. [See Deal]
Despite all of the success that DES have had in reducing restenosis, the story that has had the most dramatic impact on this market over the last couple of years...