The French Health Authority (Haute Autorite de Sante) granted Xience V an ASA Level IV medical benefit rating (Amelioration du Service Attendu) on recognizing the superior clinical results for Xience V compared to the Taxus paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system in the SPIRIT II and III randomized clinical trials. This distinction recognizes an improved medical benefit for Xience V compared to Taxus. Abbott’s Xience V drug eluting stent will become available to all public and private hospitals throughout France in February.
John Capek, executive vice president, Medical Devices, Abbott, said: “Abbott looks forward to introducing Xience V as a new standard of care in the treatment of coronary artery disease to physicians and patients in France.”