France represents the second largest market in Europe for coronary artery stents, with approximately 150,000 stents implanted annually. Of these, 55 percent are implanted in private clinics and hospitals and 45 percent in public hospitals.
"We are very pleased that the French government has recognized the benefit of the TAXUS stent system to patients with coronary artery disease," said Michel Darnaud, President of Boston Scientific Europe. "This news permits all patients, whether in private or public facilities, to benefit from the proven effectiveness of TAXUS in reducing restenosis."
The TAXUS technology is Boston Scientific's proprietary polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting stent system for reducing coronary restenosis, the growth of neointimal tissue within an artery after angioplasty and stenting. Boston Scientific launched the TAXUS Express2 paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system in Europe and other international markets in February and is the leader in those markets today. The TAXUS stent system is not available for sale in the United States, pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Company wishes to caution the reader that actual results may differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and may be adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated with clinical trials, the regulatory approval process, physician acceptance of new products, competitive product offerings, intellectual property, litigation, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.