Guidant
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Co-exclusive licensing agreement with Novartis Pharma AG will allow Guidant to use the investigational everolimus drug on coronary stents. Clinical trials evaluating a coronary stent with the compound, which is in the same family as Rapamycin (sirolimus), are slated to begin by year-end. Guidant previously disclosed it was working on an "unnamed compound" in addition to its paclitaxel program through an agreement with Cook (1"The Gray Sheet" March 11, 2002, p. 15). Separately, Guidant announces FDA market go-ahead for its Insignia next-generation pacemaker on March 26. FDA approval of the firm's Contak CD system for heart failure patients needing resynchronization therapy is expected "within the next several weeks," Guidant notes. FDA's Circulatory System Devices Panel recommended against approval in July 2001, but Guidant submitted additional data in February (2"The Gray Sheet" March 11, 2002, p. 3)...