Abbott announced that Health Canada has approved the company's Absorb bioresorbable heart stent, making the first-of-its-kind medical device commercially available to treat people in Canada with coronary artery disease.
Absorb is the only dissolving heart stent approved for the treatment of coronary artery disease, which ranks as the number one killer of Canadian men and women. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease, which affects an estimated 1.3 million Canadians and remains a leading cause of death worldwide despite decades of therapeutic advances.
While stents are traditionally made of metal, Abbott's Absorb stent is made of a naturally dissolving material, similar to dissolving sutures. Absorb disappears completely1 in approximately three years, once it has done its job of keeping a clogged artery open and promoting healing of the treated artery segment. By contrast, metal stents are permanent implants that restrict vessel motion for the life of the person treated.
"The Absorb stent is a significant advance in the way that coronary artery disease can be treated," said Philippe L.-L'Allier, M.D., director, interventional cardiology, Montreal Heart Institute. "Its novel technology means that once the stent has dissolved, the treated artery can pulse and flex as demands on the heart change with everyday activities. It also means physicians can more easily offer their patients other treatment options if necessary in a patient's future."
With Health Canada's approval of the Absorb bioresorbable stent, Abbott plans to offer the innovative device to Canadian hospitals nationwide starting this summer.
Alberta resident, Cynthia Gibeau, 60, was treated with the Absorb bioresorbable heart stent three years ago through a special access program after she was diagnosed with blockages in her coronary arteries. "When I was told that I could receive a stent that would disappear once it had done its job, I felt so relieved," said Cynthia. "It's been three years since the procedure and I have great peace of mind knowing that the device opened the blockage, delivered its medicine and then dissolved, leaving behind an artery without a permanent metallic structure."
"Abbott's goal is to help people everywhere live better, fuller and healthier lives," said Deepak Nath, Ph.D., senior vice president, vascular, Abbott. "The Absorb bioresorbable stent treats coronary artery disease without committing people to a permanent metal implant—giving them peace of mind and helping them get back to their daily lives without the concern of having a permanent metallic implant. We're very excited to bring the promise of Absorb to patients in Canada."
