Johnson & Johnson announced positive 30-day results from its pivotal FORWARD CAD clinical study evaluating the investigational Shockwave Javelin Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) catheter. Among 158 patients with severely narrowed and calcified coronary arteries, the device achieved a 93.6% technical success rate, while 93.4% of patients remained free of major adverse cardiovascular events through 30 days. The technology uses ultrasonic pressure waves to break up calcium in difficult-to-treat artery blockages, potentially helping physicians treat patients whose conditions may not respond to conventional balloon-based approaches.
