Pulse Biosciences Surpasses Enrollment Midpoint in NANOPULSE-AF Pivotal Trial for Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation
Key Insights
Pulse Biosciences has surpassed the enrollment midpoint in its 215-patient NANOPULSE-AF IDE pivotal study, which commenced in April 2026, with full enrollment targeted for early Q4 2026.
The single-arm, multicenter trial is evaluating the nPulse nanosecond pulsed field ablation system in patients with recurrent, drug-resistant, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (search).
Investigators cite the system's intuitive platform, minimal learning curve, and seamless workflow integration as key drivers of the rapid enrollment trajectory.
Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLSE) announced today that its NANOPULSE-AF pivotal study has surpassed the enrollment midpoint, marking a significant milestone for the company's proprietary Nanosecond Pulsed Field Ablation (nano-PFA or nsPFA) technology. The study, which commenced in April 2026 under FDA Investigational Device Exemption, is now past the halfway mark with full enrollment of 215 patients targeted for early Q4 2026 — putting the company on a path to complete accrual within roughly six months of study initiation.
"We are very pleased by the strong enrollment trajectory in the NANOPULSE-AF study. Reaching this midpoint milestone so quickly reflects the enthusiasm of our investigational sites for this technology and its potential to deliver leading durability in pulmonary vein isolation, procedural efficiency and consistent safe and effective patient outcomes," said David Kenigsberg, MD, FACC, FHRS, Chief Medical Officer of Pulse Biosciences.
Rapid Enrollment Driven by Ease of Use
Investigators involved in the study have pointed to the nPulse System's intuitive design as a key factor behind the brisk enrollment pace. "The nPulse System has been a remarkably intuitive platform to work with. The learning curve is minimal, and the workflow integrates seamlessly into our existing ablation practice," said Frank Cuoco, MD, FACC, FHRS, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at HCA Trident Health in Charleston, South Carolina, and a top-enrolling investigator in the study. "That ease of use is a meaningful driver of the momentum we're seeing in enrollment, and the nPulse System has already demonstrated the potential to be a safe and durable treatment option for our patients."
Vivek Reddy, MD, Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York and National Principal Investigator of the NANOPULSE-AF Study, also emphasized the catheter's usability. "Having experience with this catheter during the first-in-human cases in Prague, I was excited to get this IDE study started in the United States," Reddy said. "Reaching the halfway mark so rapidly is a true testament to the ease of use of this catheter, and the excitement it engenders in the investigators. Having seen the compelling safety and efficacy data in the first-in-man dataset, I look forward to evaluating the full pivotal dataset with my fellow investigators upon the study's completion."
Study Design and Competitive Landscape
The NANOPULSE-AF study is a single-arm, prospective, multicenter pivotal trial enrolling patients with recurrent, drug-resistant, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (search). The trial's primary safety and effectiveness endpoints will be measured against pre-specified performance goals, and the data generated will represent the first controlled clinical evidence at scale for Pulse's nsPFA technology.
The competitive context adds weight to the trial's progress. Abbott (search)'s Volt pulsed field ablation system received FDA approval in December 2025 for both paroxysmal and persistent AF, meaning Pulse is conducting its pivotal study in a market that already has a cleared PFA option. Pulse's nPulse platform employs nanosecond pulsed electric field technology — a meaningfully different biophysical mechanism from conventional PFA — and this distinction is expected to carry significant weight when the company makes its regulatory and commercial case.
Kenigsberg noted that the protocol reflects real-world clinical practice: "This momentum is driven first by the technology itself. Second, the protocol represents a real-world example of the type of patients we are seeing in clinical practice, where ablation has become a first-line therapy to address patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (search)."
Looking Toward Data Readout
With the enrollment midpoint crossed, the event clock is now running on the safety follow-up window. The primary effectiveness rate at data lock will be the critical figure to watch, as Pulse needs that result to land well above the performance goal threshold to build a compelling differentiation story in an increasingly crowded ablation market. The company will provide additional commentary on the study's progress during its upcoming earnings conference call on August 6, 2026.