January 25, 2010 -- In the two weeks since a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the major U.S.-based stent manufacturers have responded by pledging over three million dollars of aid for both immediate and long-term relief efforts.

Abbott Labs, whose Abbott Vascular division manufacturers the XIENCE everolimus-eluting stent, announced $2.5 million in grant funding and donations of critical pharmaceutical and nutritional products to humanitarian aid organizations.

Medtronic, maker of the ENDEAVOR zotarolimus-eluting stent, has pledged $750,000 in Foundation grants directed to the rebuilding of healthcare infrastructure in Haiti, and will match employee donations up to $250,000, with matching funds directed to Partners in Health for short-term relief. The company is also granting paid leave to its employees worldwide to help in recovery efforts. Adding in other efforts and product donations, the total could exceed $1.25 million worth of assistance. This is in addition to an existing five-year, $500,000 grant to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies disaster relief fund.

CYPHER stent maker Johnson & Johnson is reportedly sending four “disaster relief modules” to Haiti. These containers had been pre-staged in key global “hot spots” prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and other catastrophes and include wound care, infection prevention, analgesic and orthopedic products. In addition, through a note to all employees, J&J has encouraged donations to the cause & promised to match any US employee contributions.

Finally a spokesperson for Boston Scientific, makers of the PROMUS and TAXUS LIBERTE stents, told Angioplasty.Org that the company has donated $100,000 to relief efforts.

For readers who wish to make a donation directly, there are numerous organizations collecting contributions. One in particular focused on healthcare relief is Boston-based "Partners in Health" -- donations are being taken on the Web at their dedicated site, http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti.

Reported by Burt Cohen, January 25, 2010

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