The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently returned a decision in a case pitting Shockwave Medical Inc. against Cardiovascular Systems Inc. in a decision that adds a new wrinkle to the question of how prior art can and cannot be used to eviscerate a patent.

Johnson & Johnson beat analysts’ expectations for its second quarter results, led by medical device sales of $8.54 billion. All med-tech segments performed better than anticipated, with cardiology reporting exceptionally strong 22.3% growth. In addition, the innovative medicines division shocked the Street with 4.9% growth, despite the loss of patent protection for the blockbuster drug, Stelara.

Johnson & Johnson beat analysts’ expectations for its second quarter results, led by medical device sales of $8.54 billion. All med-tech segments performed better than anticipated, with cardiology reporting exceptionally strong 22.3% growth. In addition, the innovative medicines division shocked the Street with 4.9% growth, despite the loss of patent protection for the blockbuster drug, Stelara.

What does it take to create space in a market dominated by a single player? Three challengers to Johnson & Johnson's Shockwave shared their strategies for gaining traction in intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) at the Device Talks meeting June 11 in Minneapolis.

Shockwave Medical Inc. is confident that its intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) system can continue to dominate the market for calcium modification even as other technologies emerge, chief medical officer Nick West told BioWorld.

Shockwave Medical Inc., a unit of Johnson & Johnson Medtech, reported positive 30-day results from the EMPOWER CAD trial, which used its intravascular lithotripsy system in women with complex, calcified coronary artery disease. The results from the first prospective, real-world percutaneous coronary intervention study in female patients confirmed the benefit of coronary patients as seen in other retrospective analyses.

Receipt of EU MDR CE mark may not be a magic potion, but Elixir Medical Corp. is certainly feeling a boost from the regulatory nod for its mechanical Lithix hertz contact intravascular lithotripsy system for treatment of moderate to severely calcified coronary artery lesions. Simultaneously, the company reported the launch of Lithix and completion of first cases in Italy, France and Germany.

Boston Scientific Corp.’s up to $664 million acquisition of Bolt Medical Inc. closed just days after Bolt secured U.S. FDA 520(k) clearance for its intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) system, positioning Boston Sci to challenge Johnson & Johnson’s Shockwave IVL system, which has been the only player in the market.

While women with “big hearts” play well in popular culture, cardiologists see a very different picture – with significant implications for women’s health and medical care. Women have smaller hearts and narrower blood vessels than men and their cardiovascular systems respond to disease and treatment in very different ways. Growing evidence that failure to reflect women’s distinct anatomy in cardiac care leads to deadly disparities in outcomes has recently stimulated development of new diagnostics and increased focus on inclusion of women in medical device trials.

Two recent trials in cardiovascular disease took critical steps toward addressing ongoing and deadly disparities in cardiac care by focusing entirely on women.