Key insights
- Johnson & Johnson launched the Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter, a next-generation device for treating calcified coronary artery disease. The device features improved deliverability and lesion crossing capabilities. While positive for JNJ, the overall impact on the US equity market is slightly bullish due to the company's size and influence in the healthcare sector.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced today the global launch of its Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter for the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease, according to a press release statement.
The next-generation intravascular lithotripsy catheter features improved deliverability, enhanced lesion crossing capabilities and new repositioning functions compared to its predecessor, the Shockwave C2+. The device uses ultrasonic acoustic pressure waves to disrupt calcified plaque in coronary arteries.
Coronary artery disease affects an estimated 315 million people worldwide and approximately 1 in 20 adults over age 20 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition occurs when cholesterol deposits narrow blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. These deposits can accumulate calcium and harden over time, creating treatment challenges.
The Shockwave C2 Aero features a more flexible shaft, balloon and marker bands designed to navigate tortuous arteries. The device includes a tapered tip and hydrophilic coating to facilitate crossing dense calcified deposits. New balloon material enables more compact deflation, allowing the catheter to be repositioned within coronary anatomy to treat additional lesions.
The catheter has a working length of 138 centimeters and contains two emitters in an integrated balloon that fire simultaneously up to 120 pulses, delivering up to 240 Shockwaves total.
The device is now available in the United States and Japan. Johnson & Johnson stated it will become available in Europe and Canada in the coming months.
The technology will be displayed at EuroPCR 2026 in Paris, France from May 19-22, 2026.
Shockwave Medical became part of Johnson & Johnson following an acquisition. The company develops products using intravascular lithotripsy technology for treating cardiovascular disease.
In other recent news, Johnson & Johnson announced promising results from its Phase 2b studies of JNJ-4804, targeting ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The investigational therapy achieved clinical remission rates of 50.8% in patients, significantly outperforming other treatments like golimumab and guselkumab. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya demonstrated efficacy in a Phase 3 study for perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease, with statistically significant remission rates compared to placebo. On the corporate front, Johnson & Johnson appointed Ryan Koors as Vice President of Investor Relations, effective in 2026, succeeding Darren Snellgrove. Meanwhile, CVS Health announced it would prioritize lower-cost biosimilars over Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara in its drug lists starting in July. Furthermore, Johnson & Johnson is set to present 18 abstracts from its neuropsychiatry portfolio at upcoming meetings, featuring data on treatments like CAPLYTA and SPRAVATO. These developments reflect the company’s ongoing efforts in advancing its pharmaceutical portfolio.
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