US Markets for Peripheral Stents Get AAA Rating

After three decades of dramatic innovation in coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease has moved up in the evolutionary chain. With the mature coronary artery space now offering low single-digit growth rates, medical device companies of all sizes are looking to the product opportunities in peripheral arterial disease, a market estimated to grow by 10 to 12% per year from its current level of $3 to $3.5 billion. Two major acquisitions in the space have underscored the opportunities. In January 2010, Medtronic PLC paid $350 million plus earn-outs to acquire Invatec SPA, which, beginning in peripheral vascular disease, captured the European market and is now bringing its strategy to the US. [See Deal] ( See "Invatec: Translating Global Success in Vascular Devices to the US Market," IN VIVO, October 2009Also see "Invatec: Translating Global Success in Vascular Devices to the US Market" - In Vivo, 1 October, 2009..) Five months later, Covidien Ltd. acquired ev3 Inc., a major presence in non-coronary percutaneous interventions with some 100 such products. [See Deal] The medical device industry has officially recognized that peripheral vascular disease is not an extension of interventional cardiology, but is in need of innovation directed at peripherally specific products. This recognition has extended beyond arterial disease to new markets opening up in venous disease. ( See,"Venous Device Companies Dig Deep," this issueAlso see "Vein Device Companies Dig Deeper " - Medtech Insight, 1 March, 2011..)

According to " US Markets for Peripheral Vascular Stents," a report recently published by the Medtech Insight division of Elsevier...