A multicenter randomized trial comparing amphilimus- with paclitaxel-eluting stents in de novo native coronary artery lesions.

Objectives: This study sought to demonstrate the noninferiority of polymer-free amphilimus-eluting stents (Cre8, CID, Saluggia, Italy) versus permanent-polymer paclitaxel-eluting stents (Taxus Liberté, Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) in de novo percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Although the efficacy of the drug-eluting stent has been well established, the risk-benefit balance is still suboptimal, and the safety of polymers remains uncertain.

Methods: Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for de novo lesions were randomly assigned 1:1 to Cre8 or Taxus Liberté stents. Primary endpoint was 6-month angiographic in-stent late lumen loss (LLL) within a noninferiority scope. Six-month intravascular ultrasound was performed in 20% of the patients. All patients will be clinically followed up to 5 years.

Results: Out of 323 patients enrolled, 162 received Cre8 and 161 Taxus Liberté stents. In-stent LLL was significantly lower in Cre8 group (0.14 ± 0.36 mm vs. 0.34 ± 0.40 mm, p noninferiority <0.0001, p superiority <0.0001). Clinical endpoints (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, and stent thrombosis) up to 12 months did not differ significantly between the groups.

Conclusions: The Cre8 stent in de novo lesions showed significantly lower in-stent LLL at 6 months than the Taxus Liberté stent did, with a trend toward better 12-month clinical safety and efficacy results. (International Randomized Comparison Between DES Limus Carbostent and Taxus Drug-Eluting Stents in the Treatment of De Novo Coronary Lesions [NEXT]; NCT01373502).