Invatec's In.Pact Falcon Receives CE Mark

March 16, 2009—Invatec, Inc. (Bethlehem, PA) announced CE Mark approval of the In.Pact Falcon paclitaxel-eluting balloon catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The In.Pact Falcon is designed specifically to treat atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. The device features Invatec's FreePac, a natural coating that frees and separates paclitaxel molecules and facilitates their absorption into the wall of the artery.

"Combining PTCA balloon catheter technology with local drug administration is a fascinating new concept for the treatment of certain coronary lesions such as in-stent restenosis, bifurcations, small vessel disease, and potentially other lesions where conventional balloons, stents, and even drug-eluting stents may not be ideal," commented Professor Eberhard Grube, MD. "A drug-eluting balloon such as the In.Pact Falcon that elutes a known and effective drug such as paclitaxel holds much promise as an effective treatment option for patients."