Q3 Medical, Medtronic seal agreement to distribute ARCHIMEDES bio-degradable stent

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Q3 Medical Devices Limited (Q3 Medical) has entered into a distribution agreement with Medtronic plc for ARCHIMEDES, the first to market fully bio-degradable biliary and pancreatic stent designed as traditional plastic stent alternative.

Medtronic’s Gastrointestinal and Hepatology business and Q3 Medical have agreed to a six-year, exclusive agreement to distribute ARCHIMEDES bio-degradable stents in western European Union, United States and Japan, with rights to other regions.

Q3 Medical president and chief executive officer, Eric Mangiardi said the company entry into this agreement was a major step towards its goal of becoming the world’s leading developer of biodegradable implants.

“The promise of ARCHIMEDES is based in its potential to eliminate the second removal procedure required for traditional plastic stents, which could reduce billions of expenses from the global healthcare system while improving patient care.”

Q3 Medical will continue to expand its presence in South East Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Typically, biliary and pancreatic duct stents are made of plastic or metal; however, the ARCHIMEDES stent is made of a combination of dissolving materials permitting different rates of degradation, depending on patient needs.

Use of degrading materials in a stent decreases re-interventions that are common with current stents and allows the potential for eliminating a stent removal procedure which is almost always done for plastic and metal stents currently.

-- BERNAMA