But until recently, doctors have had no way of comparing Cypher to Taxus.

FORBES: Studies Give Edge To J&J Stent

Boston Scientific's drug-coated stent, Taxus, isn't expected to reach the market until 2004.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In the trial, patients who received Taxus instead of Cypher were 80% more likely have a serious cardiovascular event or surgery.

FORBES: J&J's Eleventh-Hour Victory

The researchers found that patients receiving Cypher were at much lower risk of having their arteries reclose than those who received Taxus.

FORBES: Studies Give Edge To J&J Stent

Bare metal stents cut that rate at least in half, and both Cypher and Taxus lower it again to a mere 5% or so.

FORBES: Studies Give Edge To J&J Stent

In a related study, German and Swiss researchers used statistical methods to analyze the six largest trials comparing Cypher to Taxus, involving 3, 669 patients.

FORBES: Studies Give Edge To J&J Stent

Drug-coated stents prevent arteries from re-closing better than the traditional, bare-metal kind--and right now Boston Scientific's drug-coated Taxus stent owns 60% of the stent market.

FORBES: JNJ-Guidant Vs. Boston-Scientific-St. Jude

Hospitals are hoping that rival Boston Scientific will help bring relief by the end of the year when the FDA could approve its drug-coated stent Taxus.

FORBES: Boston Scientific Close On J&J's Heels With New Stent

Taxus patients' arteries re-narrowed more often than those on Cypher.

FORBES: J&J's Eleventh-Hour Victory

Boston Scientific's Taxus in 2004.

FORBES: Study Could Hurt Stent Sales