Boston Scientific (BSX) has been the leader in sales of stents, those little mess tubes that keep arteries open. Recent studies show that the devices are more dangerous than most doctors had believed. That has hurt sales and the BSX shares.
Now Abbott (ABT) is taking a stent of its own (the Xience) to the FDA. Some data show it may be better than the flagship Boston Scientific product call Taxus. If further review bears this out, BSX is in for another beating.
A JP Morgan analyst was recently quoted by The Associated Press as saying "The data presented by Abbott does show that Xience is statistically superior to Taxus, which is the market leader."
BSX shares are down 2.5% today to $12.37. If the FDA loves the new Abbott product, the stock may go lower.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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