Cardiovascular Disease: Taxus Liberte Gets CE Mark to Use for Diabetics

Cardiovascular disease is one complication the diabetics may have to face so it is with much anticipation to read Senior vice president of Boston Scientific International, David McFaul announcing that Taxus Liberte stent has been given a CE Mark approval to use for diabetics. He further said that clinical trials and real life statistics have shown it has benefited patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Taxus Liberte is the drug-eluting stent technique most often used in Europe. Getting the approval for use in diabetic patients is quite a milestone for Boston Scientific whose aim is to offer patients the latest treatment option for cardiovascular disease.

Since the diabetics are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, this is a helpful solution. The patients they examined, 1529 of them, were treated with Taxus Liberte stent system at their clinical trial. Of this number, 413 were diabetics. Four trials showed the effectiveness and safety of this system for diabetics. But don't forget that you can protect the heart by exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.

About 50% of patients with CAD (coronary artery disease) in Europe are diabetics. These patients showed worse results after revascularization due to their blood vessels that show a tendency to have more plaque. Their CAD also develops more rapidly and so is the most frequent cause of death among those with diabetes in Europe.

Taxus Liberte is not available yet in the United States but Boston Scientific is waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve it. For now, it is available outside the United States. It comes in a wide variety of sizes to treat a range of lesion lengths and vessel sizes in patients suffering from coronary artery disease.

I tried to update this but could not find any additional information except to say the TAXUS Liberte has more CE Mark-approved indications than any other drug-eluting stent. We already know that Boston Scientific Corporation that the system received CE Mark approval for the diabetic patient use.

Boston Scientific also reported that the Taxus Liberte has done well for patients with diabetes who also has coronary artery disease. The benefit is not only authenticated by clinical trials but also by real world reports. No wonder it is the most frequently used system in Europe. This is good information for the diabetics who also suffer from cardiovascular disease.