Stent approval results in Limerick jobs boost

Medical devices developer Cook Medical is to increase its employment levels at its Limerick facility having gained Food and Drug Administration approval to sell its latest stent in the USA.

The Zilver PTX is the world’s first FDA-approved drug-eluting stent for use in superficial femoral artery. It is designed to treat peripheral arterial disease — the buildup of fatty deposits within the lining of the arteries — which affects one-in-six people over the age of 55 in Ireland.

This fatty buildup accounts for 12% of cardiovascular disease hospital discharges in Ireland and represents 15% of bed days (over 100,000) annually.