REPORT: PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DEVICE MARKET SET FOR MAJOR GROWTH

The U.S. market for peripheral vascular (PV) medical devices will grow by nearly $1 billion over the next five years, reaching annual sales of $2.6 billion in 2010, according to a new report by Millennium Research Group (MRG).

Up to 12 million Americans suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), the report noted. The aging U.S. population and the availability of new technologies, combined with growing incidences of obesity, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease, will drive the demand for PV procedures throughout the next decade, it added.

Two technologies that are expected to drive much of the growth in PVD therapy are carotid artery stents and embolic protection devices (EPDs), according to MRG. In late 2004, the FDA announced approval of the first carotid stent system.

Over the next five years, the markets for carotid stents and EPDs are forecasted to grow threefold, reaching over $230 million by 2010. In 2005, only Guidant and Abbott Vascular had secured FDA approval of carotid indicated devices, the report noted. However, a number of additional players are expected to enter this market within the next few years, the it added, including Boston Scientific, Cordis, ev3, Kensey Nash, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, and W.L. Gore.

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