SURVIVING AS A STENT STARTUP

The medical device industry rarely sees an overnight success. But in April 2003, when Johnson & Johnson first introduced the United States to a revolutionary heart disease treatment—a drug-coated version of the stents commonly used to prop open blocked arteries after they've been cleared—doctors jumped at the opportunity and quickly opted for the newer products. In less than three years, the global market for these drug-eluting stents has grown to $5.5 billion, according to Hoovers, and Medtech Ventures expects it to reach $6.5 billion in 2010. With an eye on the potential profits, ambitious startups are trying to carve out a lucrative space by improving on the limitations of current stent technology.
Red Herring