May 29, 2018 — The first placebo-controlled trial that looked at how fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) predicts the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) found angioplasty improved ischemia. The invasive physiology data from 196 patients from the Objective Randomized Blinded Investigation with optimal medical Therapy of Angioplasty in stable angina (ORBITA) Trial was presented as a late-breaking trial at the 2018 EuroPCR conference.

M.A. MedAlliance SA has raised $37 million to help develop and commercialize the first sirolimus micro-reservoir drug-coated balloon to treat patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). The Selution DCB is also intended to treat patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and grafts (AVG) for end-stage renal disease.

Medtronic plc announced the initiation of a U.S. clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) for the treatment of bifurcation lesions. Bifurcation lesions account for approximately 20 percent of all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).[i] The Bifurcation Cohort, part of the RESOLUTE ONYX Post-Approval Study, will include patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving the Resolute Onyx DES in sizes ranging from 2–5 mm in diameter.

Abbott announced favorable outcomes from the first 100 patients treated in a global study of its Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) system. According to Abbott, Tendyne is the first and only mitral replacement valve that is repositionable and fully retrievable to allow for more precise implantation, helping improve patient outcomes. The trial is the largest study of a transcatheter mitral valve replacement device to date. Results at 30 days demonstrated that Tendyne is associated with a significant reduction of mitral regurgitation symptoms and low mortality rates.