“New and Improved” DES: One of These Things Is a Lot Like the Others

A head-to-head comparison of two new durable-polymer platforms demonstrates noninferiority — but does little to advance clinical practice.

In the DUTCH PEERS noninferiority trial, investigators compared the performance of two of the newest durable-polymer–based drug-eluting stents (DES). They randomly assigned 1811 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (median age, 65; approximately 45% with acute myocardial infarction [MI]) to receive either cobalt-chromium–based zotarolimus-eluting stents or platinum-chromium–based everolimus-eluting stents. Patients were prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy for 1 year after stent placement. The study was funded equally by the two stent manufacturers.

The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel-related MI, and target-vessel revascularization. Assuming an event rate of 10%, a noninferiority margin of 3…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

“New and Improved” DES: One of These Things Is a Lot Like the Others

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Reviewing Author