Alliance to Develop and Distribute Coated Stents

(Indianapolis, IN, USA), a manufacturer of interventional medical devices.

Under the announced agreement, Cook will gain access to Guidant's coronary stent delivery devices, while Guidant will benefit from Cook's polymer-free, paclitaxel coating technology. Cook will develop and manufacture a new paclitaxel-coated coronary stent based on Guidant's latest stent delivery system. Guidant, in turn, will manage clinical trials and regulatory matters and also serve as worldwide distributor of the device. Under a separate agreement, Guidant will provide Cook with over-the-wire and rapid-exchange stent delivery technologies for Cook to incorporate into its other coronary stent systems.

Cook's paclitaxel coating technology is designed to reduce or eliminate restenosis. The metal body of the stent is coated with a minute quantity of paclitaxel, which is gradually released into the cells of the arterial wall after stent placement to prevent excessive cell regrowth at the site of the angioplasty.

"The cross-licensing and distribution agreements we've reached should greatly benefit both companies, while avoiding potentially lengthy, expensive patent infringement litigation between us,” said John DeFord, president and CEO of Cook.




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