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Biosensors
is developing its own proprietary anti-restenotic drug for
use with stents and for other anti-proliferative applications.
Called Biolimus A-9, it is an analogue of the powerful "limus" family
of drugs that include everolimus and sirolimus. The "limus" drugs
do not function by killing cells, but by binding to them
in a way that prevents their replication. They are anti-proliferative
rather than cytotoxic. In the application of preventing arterial
restenosis, we consider the anti-proliferative strategy offered
by the "limus" drug
family superior to the use of cytotoxic agents such as Paclitaxel.
Paclitaxel is known for its cancer-fighting properties, but
has inflexible, "linear" uptake characteristics that put an
unacceptable premium on precise dosing. By contrast, preliminary
findings on Biolimus show a broader, more practical therapeutic
dosing window, similar to the other drugs in its family, and
a better safety profile when eluted into the bloodstream than
when it is taken orally.
In September, 2003, following discussions
with a key advisory panel in Europe, Biosensors launched
the "STEALTH" ("Stent
Eluting A9 BioLimus Trial in Humans") clinical trial of
its proprietary MATRIX drug-eluting stent. |
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