US-based Abbott has commenced ABSORB IV clinical trial, which will measure the efficiency of Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS), in relation to quality of life and cost savings.
Absorb is the drug eluting BVS, which works like a metallic stent by opening up blocked blood vessels in the heart and restoring blood flow.
The new clinical trial will enroll around 3,000 people with coronary artery disease in the US, according to the company.
ABSORB IV will measure angina as a primary endpoint at one year. Measuring angina is said to be significant because of its impact on quality of life and healthcare costs.
Angina is a chest pain, which is caused by reduced flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
In addition, the trial evaluates long-term clinical safety and performance based on the change in target lesion failure (TLF) from one to five years. TLF is a traditional endpoint in heart stent trials, which is used to measure the safety and effectiveness of a device.
Abbott Vascular chief medical officer and divisional vice-president Dr Charles Simonton said that ABSORB IV is a new approach to heart stent trials and the first time angina as a quality of life measure has been included as a co-primary endpoint.
"The current standard of care for narrowed coronary vessels offers strong clinical outcomes for most people," Simonton added.