J&J: Getting Paid Up-Front for New Technology

The story of the successful development by Cordis Corp., a Johnson & Johnson operating company, of the first drug-eluting stent, the Cypher, and its introduction this year into the US market has been well chronicled. What is not as well known is the equally successful and ground-breaking work that Cordis did in obtaining incremental reimbursement (an increase over the existing reimbursement level for bare metal coronary stents) for the Cypher stent from Medicare prior to the device receiving FDA approval. This is an interview with the person who directed Cordis' reimbursement efforts for the Cypher stent, Brian Firth, MD, PhD, VP for medical affairs and health economics, who explains how Cordis developed and implemented its reimbursement strategy for Cypher, and the implications of this approach for future new technologies.

By Stephen Levin

The story of the successful development by Cordis Corp. , a Johnson & Johnson operating company, of the...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Innovation

In Conversation With Foundation Fighting Blindness

 
• By 

Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, says the organization is adapting its funding strategy, navigating regulatory challenges and accelerating the translation of academic discoveries into industry-led clinical development.

Mapping Biopharma’s AI Strategy: From Custom Datasets to Foundation Models

 
• By 

Biotech companies are pursuing diverse AI strategies beyond expensive custom data generation: foundation model fine-tuning, data-efficient computational methods and targeted proprietary datasets. In Vivo takes a look at some examples.

This Belgian Biotech’s Drug Cocktail Could Help Reverse Muscle Aging

 
• By 

While big pharma pours billions into creating new anti-aging molecules, a Belgian startup has taken a different path: combining existing safe drugs with AI precision. The early results suggest it might be onto something revolutionary.

Podcast: Brain+ CEO Discusses “Groundbreaking” Potential Of CST Assistant For Dementia Patients

 

Devika Wood, CEO of Brain+, explains the importance of developing health tech solutions for dementia and the growing need to both raise awareness and improve overall access to nondrug interventions like CST.

More from In Vivo

Wide Of The Mark: ‘The Worst EU Medtech Predictions Have Not Come True’

 
• By 

Jana Grieb, European regulatory and market access legal expert at McDermott Will & Emery, explains why the healthtech and pharma industries are warming to the new EU health commissioner as he faces calls to make the MDR more “user friendly.”

This Belgian Biotech’s Drug Cocktail Could Help Reverse Muscle Aging

 
• By 

While big pharma pours billions into creating new anti-aging molecules, a Belgian startup has taken a different path: combining existing safe drugs with AI precision. The early results suggest it might be onto something revolutionary.

Rising Leaders 2025: Doxie Jordan, From UNC Graduate To Global Market Strategist

 
• By 

Bristol Myers Squibb executive Doxie Jordan discusses his path to global commercial leadership and the principles guiding pharmaceutical market strategy