"J&J's electrophysiology department shows signs of resurgence amidst competitive tension with PFA"
In the dynamic world of medical technology, Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse PFA platform is making significant strides, recording over 10,000 procedures worldwide as of mid-2025. This impressive milestone, achieved within less than a year since its initial FDA approval, signifies a rapid clinical uptake and a strong competitive position in the pulsed field ablation (PFA) market.
The Varipulse platform, which has a reported neurovascular adverse event rate of less than 0.5% from internal data, is one of the leading PFA systems in terms of procedure volume and clinical usage. Johnson & Johnson, along with competitors such as Medtronic and Boston Scientific, has FDA-approved PFA platforms, indicating the company's prominent position in this growing market segment.
In contrast, Abbott, another key player, has a PFA platform approved by CE mark but not yet FDA-approved, suggesting that Varipulse is currently more established in major markets like the U.S.
Johnson & Johnson has also extended Varipulse's reach extensively in the Asia-Pacific region, launching in countries including Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Taiwan, and Korea, reflecting strategic global market penetration.
While exact comparative growth rate figures versus competitors are not disclosed, the swift market acceptance and ongoing regulatory updates demonstrate Johnson & Johnson’s competitive positioning in pulsed field ablation technology.
Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson's Ottava soft tissue surgical robot has commenced cases for its clinical trial in April, aiming to capture a share of a soft tissue market currently dominated by Intuitive Surgical.
On another front, Johnson & Johnson's electrophysiology unit has shown sequential growth of more than 9% over the first quarter. However, it still trails that of rival Boston Scientific.
Despite this, J&J's Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Wolk, has announced a reduced tariff charge for the year, approximately $200 million, for the company's medtech business, half of the earlier forecast. This move is a response to the tariff impact that has dominated medtech earnings calls.
In a recent investor event, Boston Scientific indicated plans to revise its tariff expectations. Johnson & Johnson's executive, Schmid, remained confident that the company could do well in the electrophysiology space despite trailing Boston Scientific and Medtronic to market in PFA.
It's worth noting that J&J temporarily paused its initial launch of Varipulse due to safety concerns about four neurovascular events. However, sales of Varipulse resumed in February.
Johnson & Johnson expects a tariff charge of $400M this year, as announced during a first-quarter earnings call by Boston Scientific. This charge is expected to impact the company's medtech business.
In conclusion, Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse platform is experiencing robust adoption globally, standing as one of the top PFA systems by procedure volume and clinical usage. The company continues to innovate and expand its reach, positioning itself competitively in the pulsed field ablation technology market. The ongoing growth momentum, supported by continual product iteration and geographic expansion, bodes well for Johnson & Johnson's future in the medical technology sector.
- Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse PFA platform, with over 10,000 procedures worldwide, is making significant strides in the healthcare sector, reflecting a rapid clinical uptake and strong competitive position.
- With a reported neurovascular adverse event rate of less than 0.5%, Varipulse is one of the leading diagnostic devices in the pulsed field ablation (PFA) market.
- Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse platform, along with FDA-approved PFA systems from Medtronic and Boston Scientific, underscores the company's prominent position in the growing medtech market segment.
- In the Asia-Pacific region, Johnson & Johnson has extended Varipulse's reach to countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Taiwan, and Korea, demonstrating strategic global market penetration.
- Although Johnson & Johnson’s growth rate figures are not disclosed compared to competitors, the swift market acceptance and regulatory updates highlight the company’s competitive positioning in pulsed field ablation technology.
- Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson's Ottava soft tissue surgical robot is conducting its clinical trial, aiming to capture a share of the soft tissue market currently dominated by Intuitive Surgical.
- Johnson & Johnson's electrophysiology unit has shown sequential growth of over 9% in the first quarter, but it still lags behind that of rival Boston Scientific.
- Despite trailing competitors in certain areas, Johnson & Johnson's Chief Financial Officer has announced a reduced tariff charge for the company's medtech business, mitigating the impact of tariffs that have dominated medtech earnings calls.
- In the face of stiff competition from companies like Boston Scientific and Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson's executive remains confident that the company can thrive in the electrophysiology space, driven by ongoing innovation and geographic expansion.
