Medinol Ltd announced the successful First-in-Human (FIH) implantation of the ChampioNIR Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent in Melbourne Australia, introducing a revolutionary advancement in the mechanics, durability and drug delivery of peripheral drug eluting stents.

The ChampioNIR Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent System poses a transformational technology designed to improve patient outcomes and procedural success. In a first of its kind hybrid mechanical design, radial support is provided by the metallic component of the stent, whereas longitudinal structure is provided by a bioresorbable polymeric mesh providing unsurpassed flexibility and long-term durability in even the most challenging anatomies. A drug-elution paradigm releases drug from the entire cylindrical area of the stent, drastically reducing diffusion distances and allowing, for the first time, therapeutic dosing of a large peripheral vessel with a 'limus' drug for an extended period of time.

The CHAMPIONSHIP first-in-human study will enroll a total of 30 patients across 7 sites in Australia and the United States.