The New Math of Drug-Device Convergence

In combination products that span the device and pharmaceutical industry, one plus one doesn't necessarily equal three. Speaking at "Convergence: the Drug/Device Summit," Paul LaViolette, chief operating office of Boston Scientific, recounts the intricacies of getting Taxus, the largest combination product in history, to market. For all the success BSC has had, both with Taxus and generally speaking--a huge infrastructure, billions of dollars in revenues, and 18 PMA approvals under its belt-the first lesson it learned from its drug-eluting stent program was, "As hard as you think it may be, it's harder than that."

In Pittsburgh in mid-March, some 140 drug, device, biomaterial, and venture capital firms gathered at "Convergence: the Drug/Device Summit," to suss out the next major product opportunities to come from combining drugs and devices. The conference was organized by Bio and AdvaMed, advocacy groups for the biotechnology and device industries respectively, as well as the incubator Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and Windhover Information Inc. The device and drug industries are pinning great hopes on convergence, since the highest profile example—the drug eluting stent—is already an almost $5 billion market that's forecast to grow to $10 billion by 2009.

But drug-eluting stents, notwithstanding their success, only skim the surface of possible drug/device convergence: already, BMP products such as Medtronic Inc. 's Infuse and Stryker Corp. 's OP-1...

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 Leadership

More from In Vivo

The 360 Degrees Of European Biotech Financing In 2025

 
• By 

Almost halfway through 2025, and financing for European biotech could be described as challenging. Market volatility, geopolitical instability and trade barriers all loom large in biotech CEO minds when pitching for funding. In Vivo talked to biotechs and investors to gain a realistic view of the current market for company funding so far this year.

Rising Leaders 2025: Pedro Valencia’s ADC Vision At AbbVie

 
• By 

From chemical engineering to cancer innovation, AbbVie's rising oncology leader is advancing next-generation ADCs to tackle difficult-to-treat tumors with a patient-centered approach.

Leaders At The Frontier: Conversations From SynBioBeta 2025

 
• By 

Mini-profiles of five synthetic biology companies and their leaders from SynBioBeta 2025 reveal how AI integration, data-driven platforms and interdisciplinary teams are revolutionizing drug discovery and manufacturing.