CardioExchange Archive

March 30th, 2014

First TAVR Comparison Trial Favors Sapien XT Over CoreValve

Larry Husten, PHD

With two devices now approved for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the marketing battle has begun to win the hearts and minds of cardiologists. On Saturday at the ACC, Medtronic gained bragging rights showing the first mortality benefit for its CoreValve device. A similar improvement did not occur in the PARTNER trials with the Edwards […]

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March 29th, 2014

Survival Advantage for TAVR Over Surgery in High-Risk Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which has been slowly and cautiously entering the clinical arena, will probably get a big boost from a new trial showing a significant mortality advtange for TAVR over traditional surgery. Results from the U.S. CoreValve High-Risk Study were presented at the American College of Cardiology in Washington, DC, and published simultaneously […]

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March 29th, 2014

No Benefit Found in First Real Test of Renal Denervation

Larry Husten, PHD

SYMPLICITY HTN-3, the eagerly awaited first rigorous test of renal denervation, shows that the real effect of the novel blood-pressure-lowering technology is dramatically lower than earlier expectations, which had been fueled by data from previous uncontrolled trials. Results of SYMPLICITY HTN-3 were presented at the American College of Cardiology conference in Washington, DC, and published simultaneously […]

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March 28th, 2014

2014 Atrial Fibrillation Guideline Incorporates New Oral Anticoagulants, Catheter Ablation

Larry Husten, PHD

A new guideline for atrial fibrillation (AF) was released on Friday by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Heart Rhythm Society. Among other features, the 2014 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation incorporates important new information about the new oral anticoagulants and catheter ablation for the treatment […]

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March 27th, 2014

FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Against Approval of Novartis Heart Failure Drug

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted unanimously (11-0) against approval of the biologics license application (BLA) for serelaxin (proposed trade name, Reasanz). The novel drug from Novartis was intended to be used in patients with acute heart failure (HF). The once highly promising drug, which received a ”breakthrough therapy” designation from the FDA last year, was also turned down for approval […]

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March 25th, 2014

Glucose Measurements Don’t Improve Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Larry Husten, PHD

Although blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) play a central role in diabetes, the value of these measurements to assess cardiovascular risk has been unclear. Now, in a paper published in JAMA, members of the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration analyze data from nearly 300,000 people without known diabetes or cardiovascular disease who were enrolled in 73 prospective studies. […]

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March 25th, 2014

FDA Reviewers Recommend Against Approval for Novartis Heart Failure Drug

Larry Husten, PHD

Ahead of an important advisory panel FDA reviewers have recommended against approval of a novel drug for acute heart failure from Novartis. The once highly promising drug, which received a “breakthrough therapy” designation from the FDA last year, was turned down for approval in Europe earlier this year. On Thursday, the FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee will discuss the biologics license application (BLA) […]

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March 24th, 2014

ACC.14 Preview: Renal Denervation, TAVR Comparisons, and More

Larry Husten, PHD

The ACC begins this Saturday in Washington, DC. Here’s a preview of some of the most highly anticipated late-breaking clinical trials: On Saturday morning at the opening session the world will finally learn more about the failure of Symplicity HTN-3, the Medtronic trial of renal denervation. Until recently, renal denervation was thought to be an extremely […]

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March 19th, 2014

New Statin Guidelines Recommend Therapy for 12.8 Million More Adults Than The Prior Guideline

Larry Husten, PHD

Millions more people are now eligible for statin therapy under the new cholesterol guideline published last year, according to a new estimate published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Under the earlier guideline statins were indicated for primary and secondary prevention based largely on LDL cholesterol levels. The new guideline, announced last year, places much less […]

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March 17th, 2014

Studies Provide Little Support for Guidelines on Dietary Fats and Supplements

Larry Husten, PHD

The precise cardiovascular effect of dietary fats and supplements has been the subject of heated controversy. Although there is no strong supporting evidence from clinical trials, current guidelines tend to discourage or minimize the role of saturated fats and trans fats and to encourage the intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Two new studies published today help clarify […]

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