PROStent™

Endovasc has developed and patented a stent coating, PROStent, comprised of a polymer and prostaglandin E-1 (PGE-1). This coating slowly releases the hormone PGE-1 which has several potent activities that counteract the insult brought about by the surgical placement of a metal stent in a blocked artery vessel.  At the onset, PGE-1 acts to block the inflammatory activity that occurs in response to the invasive procedure by down-regulating the immune response. 

The anti-thrombotic activity of PGE-1 prevents the formation of clots, which generally causes the initial blockage of the vessel. Damaged by vascular disease and placement of the stent in the vessel, PGE-1 promotes the proliferation of endothelial cells (EC) needed to heal, repair and rebuild the lining of the vessel.  At the same time, PGE-1 blocks the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) to prevent the slow build up of SMC in or around the ends of the stent.  This process is referred to as restenosis, and can occur in the weeks to months that follow the procedure.

This coating technology, when used in combination with drugs other than PGE-1, may also provide a form of long-term, slow administration therapy for other indications.

MARKET POTENTIAL

Of the estimated one million stents implanted annually, approximately 20% to 25% of patients treated with conventional, bare metal stents need a second procedure within six months because the vessel can develop re-blockages.

Healthcare analysts expect that newly introduced drug-eluting stents (DES) will double the stent market to approximately $6 billion per year by 2007.

Endovasc’s stent-coating technology offers a unique therapy in CVD, which not only can potentially target the diseased area specifically, but also might time-release the drug for maximum therapeutic benefit.