Johnson & Johnson has secured FDA approval for its Varipulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) system, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of drug-resistant, recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib). This approval places J&J alongside Boston Scientific and Medtronic in the competitive U.S. market for PFA technology, which is rapidly becoming a preferred method for AFib ablation.
Varipulse System Details
The Varipulse system is designed to treat patients suffering from a common form of abnormal heart rhythm in the upper chambers. A key feature of the Varipulse platform is its integration with J&J’s Carto 3 mapping system. This integration provides electrophysiologists with a comprehensive view inside the heart, enabling precise positioning of the catheter during the ablation procedure. According to Jasmina Brooks, president of electrophysiology at J&J Medtech, the company is confident that Varipulse will be a valuable tool for physicians, offering a safe, effective, and efficient AFib procedure with an intuitive and reproducible workflow.
The Rise of Pulsed Field Ablation
Pulsed field ablation is gaining rapid acceptance among physicians as a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional ablation methods. Older techniques typically use radiofrequency energy or extreme cold to create scar tissue that blocks the irregular heartbeats associated with AFib. In contrast, PFA ablates cardiac tissue using short, high-voltage pulses. This approach is believed to be more targeted and less likely to cause damage to surrounding tissues.
Competitive Landscape
Varipulse, already approved for use in Europe, Japan, and Canada, will now compete directly with Boston Scientific’s Farapulse and Medtronic’s Pulseselect PFA systems in the U.S. market. Medtronic also recently gained FDA approval for its Affera mapping and ablation system for persistent AFib, while Boston Scientific received approval for Farawave Nav, which combines mapping and PFA in a single catheter. Boston Scientific anticipates that PFA will account for 40% to 60% of AFib ablations worldwide by 2026.
J&J's Strategic Advantage
J&J believes that the integration of its Varipulse system with the Carto 3 mapping system will give it a competitive edge in the U.S. market. The company claims that Carto 3 leads the industry in mapping capabilities and that Varipulse is the only PFA system in the U.S. to be fully integrated with it. During an October earnings call, J&J Medtech Chairman Tim Schmid noted that the company’s $5 billion electrophysiology business grew 11% in the third quarter, with its mapping system used in over 50% of competitive cases.
