St Jude Medical continues to grow in 2011

St Jude Medical has seen year-on-year growth of nine percent in 2011, while achieving a number of key clinical goals.

Data from the firm's newest fiscal report shows that its net sales for the year rose to $5.61 billion (3.26 billion pounds), with $1.41 billion of this total coming during the fourth quarter.

The majority of sales came from the company's cardiac rhythm management business unit, though the most pronounced growth rate was demonstrated by its cardiovascular division.

Highlights of the business year included the successful launch of the world's first quadripolar implantable cardioverter-defibrillator system for heart failure patients, as well as the positive results gleaned from the Fame II clinical study for coronary artery disease.

As a result of the early success of this trial, patient enrolment has been brought to an early end.

St Jude Medical's chairman, president and chief executive officer Daniel Starks said: "St Jude Medical is committed to developing medical device technology which helps reduce the cost of medical care at the same time it helps improve patient outcomes."