November 15, 2011 — A clinical trial has shown a drug-eluting stent (DES) with a bioabsorbable polymer has comparable outcomes to a DES with a durable polymer. Results of the EVOLVE clinical trial were presented at the 23rd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.
Synergy everolimus-eluting stent system compared to the Promus Element everolimus-eluting stent
Durable polymer coatings on DES have been associated with chronic inflammation and impaired healing. Bioabsorbable polymer-coated drug-delivery systems may reduce the risk of late events, including stent thrombosis, and the need for prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy.
The EVOLVE trial is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, single blind, first-in-human non-inferiority trial. Subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to either of two formulations of the Synergy everolimus-eluting stent (full or one-half dose) with a bioabsorbable polymer and a standard DES - Promus Element everolimus-eluting stent.
The primary clinical endpoint was the 30-day rate of target lesion failure; this was defined as cardiac death related to the target vessel (TV), myocardial infarction related to the TV, or target lesion revascularization. The primary angiographic endpoint was 6-month in-stent late loss.
A total of 291 subjects were enrolled in the trial between July 29, 2010 and Jan. 20, 2011 at 29 sites in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The mean subject age was 63 years, 73.1 percent were male, and 19.3 percent had medically treated diabetes.
In the bioabsorbable stent group with the full dose (n= 94), late loss at six months was .10 mm and 30-day target lesion failure was 1.1 percent. In the bioabsorbable stent group with ½ dose (n=99), late loss at six months was 0.13 mm and 30-day target lesion failure was 3.1 percent.
These results compare to the use of a traditional drug-eluting stent (n=98), in which late loss at six months was .15 mm and 30-day target lesion failure was 0 percent.
“Clinical events were low and comparable with no stent thromboses in any group,” said lead investigator Ian T. Meredith, MBBS, Ph.D. Meredith is professor and director of Monash HEART and executive director of Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre at Monash Medical Centre and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
“These results support the safety and efficacy of the novel abluminal bioabsorbable polymer everolimus-eluting stent for the treatment of patients with de novo coronary artery disease. Additional research is needed to evaluate clinical event rates and the potential for dual antiplatelet therapy reduction with this novel stent. ” said Meredith.
The EVOLVE trial is funded by Boston Scientific Corp. Meredith is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Boston Scientific, but has no financial relationship with the company.
For more information: www.crf.org
April 24, 2024 
