Abbott announced it has received US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approval for the RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System for the treatment of renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the main arteries supplying blood to the kidneys) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure). Over time, narrowed kidney arteries can lead to kidney failure and increased risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. This approval is supported by the HERCULES (Herculink Elite Cobalt Chromium Renal Stent Trial to Demonstrate Efficacy and Safety) study, which demonstrated that RX Herculink Elite is safe and effective in patients with renal artery stenosis and uncontrolled hypertension.

“One striking result of the HERCULES study was the reduction in blood pressure we saw with RX Herculink Elite in patients with uncontrolled hypertension – those who are not adequately managed with multiple blood pressure medications,” said Michael R Jaff, DO, medical director of the Vascular Centre and VasCore, the Vascular Ultrasound Core Laboratory that participated in the HERCULES trial, both at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “This result supports renal stenting as an important treatment option, as elevations in blood pressure can increase heart disease and stroke risk in patients with renal artery stenosis.”

RX Herculink Elite is the first stent using cobalt chromium technology to gain a renal indication in the United States. The cobalt chromium alloy allows for thin stent struts, providing increased flexibility while maintaining strength to support the vessel and visibility during a stent implantation procedure for accurate placement.

HERCULES is a prospective study designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis with uncontrolled hypertension. The study, which enrolled 202 patients at 37 study sites in the US, met its primary endpoint, with a significantly low restenosis (vessel re-narrowing) rate of 10.5 per cent at nine months post-treatment (p<0.0001). Very low safety event rates were seen, with 99.0 per cent of patients experiencing no kidney-related safety complications within 30 days after treatment. A reduction in systolic blood pressure was seen in approximately 78 per cent of patients at nine months, with the greatest reduction seen in patients who had the highest blood pressure levels at the start of the study (94 per cent of patients with baseline systolic blood pressure = 180 mmHg experienced an average decrease of 48 mmHg).

“The strong results from HERCULES, particularly the notable low restenosis rate and beneficial impact on blood pressure, support renal artery stenting as an important treatment option that can have a major impact on patient care,” said Charles A Simonton, MD, FACC, FSCAI, divisional vice president, Medical Affairs, and chief medical officer, Abbott Vascular. “FDA approval of RX Herculink Elite is an important milestone that reflects Abbott's commitment to developing and providing patients with the very best therapies to advance endovascular care.”

In the last 12 months, Abbott has launched five new products in the United States and Europe to treat diseases of the periphery. RX Herculink Elite adds to Abbott's comprehensive portfolio of products to advance renal therapy, including balloon dilatation catheters and peripheral guide wires.

The RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System is a cobalt chromium, rapid-exchange renal stent system. It is available in diameters ranging from 4.0 to 7.0 mm (including half sizes) and lengths of 12, 15 and 18 mm. RX Herculink Elite has been commercially available in Europe since 2007 for peripheral indications.

Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of one or both arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. The majority of cases are caused by atherosclerosis, where plaque made of fats and cholesterol accumulates in the arterial walls and causes them to stiffen and narrow, leading to reduced blood flow to the kidneys. This can result in hypertension that is persistent, severe and difficult to control with medication. Over time, patients can develop kidney failure and are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease.

Hypertension is a common disorder where blood pressure remains abnormally elevated for a sustained period of time. According to the US National Institutes of Health, after diabetes, hypertension is the second most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Elevated blood pressure makes the heart work harder and, over time, can cause heart failure and damage blood vessels throughout the body, including vessels to the brain and the eye. When the vessels in the kidneys are damaged, kidney function decreases, which can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Abbott Vascular is a global leader in cardiac and vascular care with market-leading products and an industry-leading pipeline. Abbott Vascular offers a comprehensive cardiac and vascular devices portfolio, including products for coronary artery disease, vessel closure, endovascular disease, and structural heart disease.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.