J&J Cypher sales plunge, hurt by fewer procedures

NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday said fourth-quarter global sales of its Cypher stent plunged 31 percent to $415 million, hurt by rival products and blood-clot concerns that have prompted doctors to perform fewer stenting procedures.

J&J officials, in a conference call with industry analysts and investors, said global market share of Cypher slipped 6 percentage points in the quarter, compared with the year-ago period, to 42 percent.

U.S. sales of Cypher fell more than 32 percent to $190 million, J&J said. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)