VIVA Physicians Selects NAMSA as Statistical Analytic Group to Evaluate the Safety of Paclitaxel Drug-Eluting Technologies in PAD

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- VIVA Physicians announced today the selection of NAMSA as the independent statistical analysis group to examine individual patient-level data (IPD) associated with paclitaxel-coated balloons and stent trials used in the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral artery. This analysis follows the publication of a controversial meta-analysis associating the use of these devices with increased late mortality. VIVA's partnership with NAMSA will provide a timely and transparent analysis of these data.

NAMSA, a Medical Research Organization (MRO), will provide expertise in medical device analytics, including the addition of Sue Duval, PhD, who will serve as an independent academic consultant to VIVA.

NAMSA will facilitate a data transfer process to collect patient-level data from the five commercial manufacturers who sponsored the studies in the meta-analysis and develop a detailed statistical analysis plan (SAP). Members of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Drug and Radiologic Health (CDRH) have agreed to review and comment on the statistical plan without providing its endorsement.  

Importantly, VIVA Physicians has engaged U.S. manufacturers of commercially available drug-coated balloons and drug-eluting stents to provide NAMSA with de-identified, patient-level safety data from each of their clinical programs. The access to patient-level data will promote the highest level of statistical rigor necessary to evaluate this important clinical issue.

The project will be managed by Krishna Rocha-Singh, MD, and overseen by a multidisciplinary steering committee, which includes Philip Goodney, MD; Juan Granada, MD; Michael Jaff, DO; Sanjay Misra, MD; and Christopher White, MD.

At the recent Vascular Leaders Forum, hosted by VIVA on March 1-2, 2019, in Washington, DC, Dr. Rocha-Singh stressed the importance of understanding "IPD as the new gold standard for data synthesis, and VIVA understands the challenges associated with integrating IPD from multiple sources." Furthermore, Dr. Rocha-Singh announced that VIVA intends to implement a phased analysis to the catalog of data sets: "VIVA will first examine the randomized controlled trials and then, in a second phase, approach adjudicated registry data sets to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issue."

Participating device manufacturers include:

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)/C. R. Bard

Boston Scientific

Cook Medical

Medtronic plc

Philips (formerly Spectranetics)

Running parallel with their selection of a statistical analysis group, VIVA Physicians presented on March 1-2 a scientific symposium to address the concerns raised in the meta-analysis: a special session Vascular Leaders Forum titled "Drug Elution in Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): A Critical Analysis from a Multispecialty Consortium." The Forum hosted international physician thought leaders, US regulatory representatives, and clinical trial investigators, as well as a featured presentation by the author of the meta-analysis. A recording of the Forum is available at www.vivaphysicians.org/vlf. For further questions specific to this analysis, contact research@vivaphysicians.org. 

About VIVA Physicians
VIVA Physicians is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of vascular medicine and intervention through education, advocacy, and research, and strives to be the premier educators in the field. Our team of multidisciplinary specialists in vascular medicine, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, and vascular surgery is driven by the passion to advance the field for optimal patient care. Educational events presented by VIVA Physicians have a distinct spirit of collegiality attained by synergizing collective talents to promote awareness and innovative therapeutic options for vascular disease worldwide. To learn more about VIVA Physicians, visit www.vivaphysicians.org.

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SOURCE VIVA Physicians