There has been plenty of press about the issues of whether coated stents made by Boston Scientific (BSX) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) can cause clotting problems. Several studies show that use of these stents by cardiologists has dropped sharply.
So has BSX stock price. The shares are down 15% over the last year.
But, the stent problems were not enough. A federal court has ruled that some of the product liability claims over heart defibrillators that the company’s Guidant unit made can proceed. "This case concerns the issues of whether, how, and to whom information was shared … about a device with an alleged defect," Judge Frank wrote in his ruling.
For BSX shareholders the bad news is that the company will have to continue to fight a two front war, and that usually does not come out well.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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