Boston, MA 04/08/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) stocks could see a significant uptick after recent studies were released to show that the new range of artificial valves could see significant usage increase as procedures and valves are being used in a way that they can be inserted into the heart without making major surgical procedures through the chest.
These studies were conducted on approximately 750 patients for a span of one year under the auspices of the American College of Cardiology. The studies were released in Washington on March 29.
The studies revealed that according to the trial by American college, termed as the PARTNER Trial, the Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device named CoreValve saved more lives than open-heart surgery, with a significant reduction in patient mortality of 14 percent as against and 19 percent in case of open heart surgery.
The results were deemed conclusive enough by U.S. pharma regulators that the standard review by outside experts before approving any device has been waived in this case.
The valves from Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) and Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE:EW) are expected to offer new avenues to heart patients, result in significant reduction of post-operative recovery times and should result in improvements in mortality rates. These products offer the possibility of reducing cholesterol in patients under the high risk bracket.
Minneapolis-based Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT)’s heart valve is eased through an artery and implanted into the heart using a catheter. Medtronic’s device which in medical terminology is called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device has been tested in the cardiology studies to show better mortality rates than open-heart surgery, the valves inserted using this procedure is expected to significantly reduce recovery time. Edwards’ valve, called Sapien XT, was however found to be easier to implant than Medtronic’s CoreValve, according to the study conducted on behalf of American college of Cardiology.
Analysts estimate that globally an estimated three hundred thousand potential patients can benefit from these valves and the market for these implant artificial valves could be in excess of USD 2.5 billion.
