Abbott has announced that it has received a CE Mark for the latest advancement of its Absorb stent system, Absorb GT1. It combines the world's first fully dissolving stent with a next-generation delivery catheter to help doctors treat people with heart disease.

Built upon three generations of delivery catheter innovations, Absorb GT1 refers to the GlideTrack catheter, Abbott's most advanced stent delivery system. It is designed to make it easier for doctors to access and treat diseased vessels in people with coronary artery disease (CAD). The GlideTrack catheter incorporates several design and technology changes that have the potential to improve deliverability and performance.

Last year, Abbott had announced positive one-year clinical results from ABSORB II, the world's first prospective, randomized, controlled trial. It compared the safety and effectiveness of the fully dissolving Absorb heart device to the company's market-leading, metallic XIENCE family of drug eluting stents. In one year, overall clinical outcomes for Absorb were comparable to XIENCE. The trial, conducted primarily in Europe, included 501 people with CAD.

"Coronary artery disease is the most common disease in developed countries, and the new Absorb GT1 catheter delivery system may improve the ability of doctors to treat more people with CAD by opening up coronary blockages in hard-to-reach areas with this novel, fully dissolving stent," said Dr Charles Simonton, chief medical officer and divisional vice-president, Medical Affairs, Vascular, Abbott. He added, "Abbott is committed to developing scientific and technological innovations that help people regain their health and get back to their lives, and this latest Absorb advancement will allow more people to benefit from this breakthrough medical technology."

Absorb is currently available in more than 70 countries worldwide. Absorb is an investigational device in the US and not approved for the commercial use.