Johnson & Johnson has announced the completion of its acquisition of V-Wave, a developer of treatment options for patients with heart failure. V-Wave will operate as part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech.
V-Wave’s cardiovascular implant technology specifically targets heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The Ventura interatrial shunt (IAS) is a novel implantable device designed to decrease elevated left atrial pressure seen in congestive heart failure by creating a shunt between the left and right atrium, thereby reducing cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalisations.
The device received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) breakthrough device designation in 2019 and CE mark in 2020 and has the potential to be the first device of its kind to market, Johnson & Johnson said in a press release. Ventura was studies as part of the RELIEVE-HF trial.
Results of the randomised placebo-procedure controlled trial, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 2024 annual scientific session (6–8 April, Atlanta, USA), showed that patients who had an interatrial shunt inserted between the left and right atria did not see any significant benefits overall compared with those who received a placebo procedure after a median of 22 months though investigators said that the trial did offer some signals that the benefits and risks of interatrial shunts may vary by heart failure type, specifically HFrEF.
Tim Schmid, executive vice president and worldwide chairman of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, said: “We’re excited to officially welcome V-Wave to Johnson & Johnson MedTech. V-Wave’s novel implantable device, the Ventura Interatrial Shunt, offers tremendous promise for patients experiencing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This technology has the potential to be the first device of its kind to market. We look forward to working with the talented V-Wave team to bring this transformative innovation to patients.”
