Thiruvananthapuram: An indigenous drug-eluting stent developed by scientists and cardiologists at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) was launched at the annual conference of the Interventional Cardiology Council of Kerala (ICCK) held in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The stent, named ‘Chitracore’, was unveiled by Invasive Technologies, which received the technology from SCTIMST through a technology-transfer arrangement.The stent has been developed entirely by SCTIMST scientists and cardiologists and is being manufactured in partnership with Invasive Technologies. Chitracore is an everolimus-eluting cobalt chromium stent designed to meet international quality standards while remaining affordable for Indian patients, said SCTIMST officials.The stent uses a cobalt chromium platform aimed at improved deliverability and radial strength, while everolimus is used as the drug coating for better patient outcomes. Its pricing is stated to be in line with the ceiling price fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), making it accessible to patients across Kerala and India. The development is expected to reduce dependence on imported medical devices and strengthen the ‘Make in India’ initiative in cardiovascular care.
