Pre-clinical and Clinical Study Results for the Coracto™ Rapamycin-eluting Stent – A New-generation Drug-eluting Stent

First- and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have successfully decreased the rate of restenosis compared with bare-metal stents (BMS); however, the incidence of late stent thrombosis, which mostly occurs after the implantation of DES, and chronic restenosis are still important medical problems. A new generation of DES, the Coracto™ rapamycin-eluting stent (RES), has the potential to reduce late stent thrombosis and the risk of chronic restenosis due to the totally biodegradable polymer providing a controlled drug release. In brief, the results of the two pre-clinical studies proved the safety and efficacy of the Coracto RES. In addition, in a clinical study comparing the Coracto RES and the Constant BMS, patients receiving the Coracto RES with chronic total occlusion (CTO) had a 71% decrease in the relative risk of restenosis after six months and an 82% reduction in target vessel revascularisation (TVR) after 24 months. The late stent thrombosis of the Coracto RES was 0% at 24-month follow-up. This article provides an overview of the data obtained from pre-clinical animal experiments using a porcine and rabbit model of stenting and a recently conducted clinical study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the Coracto RES.