The PIONEER IV trial is a prospective, random trial that will take place in 30 hospitals across Europe, enrolling 2,540 patients and involve patients suffering any type of coronary heart disease, including acute heart attack, chronic complaints or vessel narrowing. Patients eligible will undergo a non-invasive physiological vessel selection process to determine which vessel requires stenting. All patients enrolled into the trial will use the HT Supreme DES and be required to take one month dual-antiplatelet therapy after stenting.

Dr Jianhua Sun, PhD., chairman and chief executive officer of SINOMED, said: "We are honored to be working with the prestigious thought leaders at NUI Galway in searching for a better and safer strategy for treating patients. We believe that our HT Supreme, coupled with an optimal treatment strategy can make a big impact in bringing benefit to patients." 

Professor Timothy O'Brien, Dean of NUI Galway's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, welcomed the trial. He said: "Leading this research from Galway is consistent with the University strategy to be a global leader in cardiovascular research and innovation and compliments the presence in the University of CURAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices. We are particularly happy to partner with SINOMED on this project which aligns with the University's Global Galway Project."

The trial is sponsored by NUI Galway and it will be centrally coordinated by the University's CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core Laboratory, led by Professor Patrick W. Serruys, Established Professor of Interventional Medicine and Innovation, and Professor William Wijns, Science Foundation Ireland Professor of Interventional Cardiology.