Abbott Receives U.S. FDA Approval for RX Herculink Elite Renal Stent System for Treatment of Renal Artery Disease

Abbott ABT today announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 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, D.O., medical director of the Vascular Center 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."