It isn't enough that Abbott Labs'
At the American College of Cardiology meeting this weekend, Abbott presented data from an ongoing head-to-head trial of Xience and Taxus, and the results look even better than the earlier two-year data point. At three years after implantation, Xience maintained its rate of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, at 6.4%, but the rate for Taxus went up from 10.5% at year two to 14.9% at year three. Talk about kicking a guy while he's down.
This continued strong showing should help Xience continue to compete well, especially against Medtronic's
All isn't completely lost for Boston Scientific, however, as it gets to sell Promus -- albeit with some royalties going back to Abbott. Last quarter, domestic sales of Promus and Taxus were about equal, but as the data sinks in for cardiologists, I expect we'll see a continuing trend toward more sales of Promus (and Xience) at the expense of Taxus.
Pivotal trials are necessary for drug and medical device makers to get their products past the FDA and onto the market, but it's just as important for investors to pay attention to the post-marketing trials. The results of those trials can often determine whether the product becomes a blockbuster or just languishes in oblivion. It can even cause a bidding war, as seen with Gilead Sciences'
Out post-article Foolishness never languishes: