The U.S. CMS has confirmed that it will cover renal denervation as a treatment for hypertension in a final coverage memo that largely mirrors the July 2025 draft. One key difference, however, is that Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for RDN after only six weeks of optimized medical therapy, half the three-month waiting period described in the draft.
Medtronic plc’s SPYRAL HTN-ON MED trial demonstrated significantly greater reduction in blood pressure with the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation procedure at three years than a sham procedure in a study presented as featured clinical research at the 2025 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in San Francisco.
Several cardiology societies in the U.S. have updated their guidelines for management of hypertension, which for the first time includes and endorsement of renal denervation (RDN). Two companies are poised to benefit from the news, including Medtronic plc with its Symplicity Spyral device and Recor Medical Inc., and its Paradise RDN system.
Deepqure Inc. gained clinical trial clearance from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to test its Hyperqure renal denervation system for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
To the surprise of no one in the device industry, the Medicare national coverage analysis for renal denervation (RDN) includes both radiofrequency and ultrasound technologies, but the agency has listed a range of specialists to be part of the patient’s care team, including but not limited to an endocrinologist.
The renal denervation patent wars are now in full swing, with subsidiaries of Medtronic plc and Recor Medical LLC, landing the first blow in this chapter of the med tech patent struggles.
Boston Scientific Corp. agreed to acquire Sonivie Ltd., developer of a therapeutic intravascular ultrasound system for denervation to treat resistant hypertension, pulmonary hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On a 100% basis, the deal is valued at $600 million with $400 million up front and $200 million upon achievement of a regulatory milestone.
U.S. Medicare coverage of renal denervation (RDN) for uncontrolled hypertension may soon be a fact of life if the manufacturers of these systems have their way. CMS opened a national coverage analysis for RDN, but as is routine practice recently, the agency is asking for comment before posting even a draft coverage memo for this technology.
As renal denervation (RDN) makes a comeback for treatment-resistant hypertension, Deepqure Inc. is advancing its RDN medical device dubbed Hyperqure with the U.S. FDA granting clearance for a U.S.-based study.
News out of the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting May 16-19 highlighted the rapid disruption pulsed field ablation (PFA) devices have wrought in cardiac arrhythmia treatment, so it is little surprise to see that PFAs are among the top five technologies with transformative potential identified by Clarivate plc in its Medical Technologies to Watch in 2024 report. The impact of the other four – continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for diabetes, neurostimulation devices, surgical robotics and renal denervation – has been just as revolutionary, if longer in being realized.