The Lutonix® drug-coated balloon: A novel drug delivery technology for the treatment of vascular disease.

Local drug delivery of an anti-proliferative drug from balloon catheter systems to the site of arterial injury has been attempted repeatedly over the years with limited success in drug uptake and retention. Accessibility of the drug at the site is critical to combat the body's response to the procedural trauma of angioplasty. Recently, formulations have been designed which achieve delivery of therapeutic doses of the anti-proliferative drug paclitaxel to arteries with higher efficiency and longer tissue retention.