Johnson & Johnson to Acquire V-Wave for $1.7 Billion to Strengthen Cardiovascular Leadership

Aug 21, 2024 07:01 CST Updated 07:01

Johnson & Johnson

Medical Device R&D and Manufacturer

V-Wave

Developer of Percutaneous Implantable Devices

On August 20, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire V-Wave.V-WaveV-Wave Ltd. is a private company focused on developing innovative treatment solutions for heart failure patients. Under the terms of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson will acquire V-Wave Ltd. for an upfront payment of $600 million, subject to customary adjustments, with the potential for up to approximately $1.1 billion in additional regulatory and commercial milestone payments. V-Wave Ltd. will join Johnson & Johnson as part of its medical technology division. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.Just Now! Johnson & Johnson Acquires a Cardiovascular Device Company for $13.1 Billion）

The planned acquisition of V-Wave will enhance Johnson & Johnson MedTech's position as an innovative leader in addressing cardiovascular diseases. It will further accelerate the transition to high-growth and high-opportunity markets and deepen relationships with structural interventional cardiologists and heart failure specialists.

Ventura® Interatrial Shunt Device's innovative hourglass design is intended to create a Venturi-like effect from the high-pressure atrium to the low-pressure atrium. This effect enhances the efficiency of blood transfer, allowing for a smaller shunt. Nitinol Hourglass Frame: Designed to securely anchor the shunt device to the fossa ovalis, preventing device displacement or embolism. Biocompatible ePTFE Encapsulation: Aimed at limiting tissue growth and maintaining device patency.

Heart failure is a global health burden associated with decreased quality of life, frequent hospitalizations, increased healthcare costs, and high premature mortality. V-Wave's cardiovascular implant technology specifically targets heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In HFrEF, the patient's myocardium has an impaired ability to pump oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body. V-Wave'sVentura®IntertrialThe InterAtrial Shunt (IAS) is a novel implantable device designed to reduce elevated left atrial pressure in congestive heart failure by creating a shunt between the left and right atria, thereby decreasing cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalizations. More specifically, the device:

Placed in the heart through a catheter-based minimally invasive surgery, it has the potential to fill a significant treatment gap between guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) as the first-line treatment and highly invasive cardiac replacement therapies, including left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and heart transplantation.

Received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in the U.S. in 2019, obtained CE Marking in 2020, and has the potential to become the first device of its kind to be marketed.

Addressing the unmet needs of approximately 800,000 patients in the U.S. who experience HFrEF each year represents a market opportunity for significant sustainable growth and meaningful impact.

Tim Schmid, Executive Vice President and Global Chairman of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology, stated:"We are delighted to welcome V-Wave to Johnson & Johnson Medical and take another significant step toward transforming the standard of care for cardiovascular diseases. We recognize the importance of identifying more diverse and effective treatments for heart failure, and our recent track record demonstrates our focus on accelerating impact for the most pressing and unmet needs. We have deep familiarity with V-Wave, as our relationship dates back to our initial investment in the company in 2016, and we have a profound understanding of the technology, science, and the company’s commitment to patients. We look forward to collaborating with the V-Wave team at this critical stage of their development to help bring the Ventura® Interatrial Shunt technology to patients."

V-Wave CEO Dr. Neal Eigler stated:"At V-Wave, we are committed to the vision of helping patients around the world, and we know that Johnson & Johnson Medical shares this mission. We believe that Johnson & Johnson Medical has the capability to ensure that V-Wave's groundbreaking ideas and technologies reach patients in need as quickly and effectively as possible. I am immensely proud of the V-Wave team and their dedication to achieving this milestone. We look forward to continuing to build a world that prevents, treats, and cures cardiovascular diseases."

Follow the official account below to see the world!