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
(Disclaimer: external
links to news, press releases and other timely information
sources are provided as a service by Angioplasty.Org, which
is not responsible for the content found on any external
sites. Items marked with a ($$) indicate that the external
site normally restricts viewing to paid subscribers. Other
sites may require free registration.