Latest news with #Watchman
Dominion Post
4 days ago
- Health
- Dominion Post
Mon Medical Center participates in trial for device that could revolutionize Afib treatment
dbeard@ MORGANTOWN – Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center is participating in a clinical trial that could forever change how patients with atrial fibrillation are treated. The trial is called Catalyst, for the Abbott Medical Devices Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder. The Amulet is already in use for Afib patients who can't use oral anticoagulants (blood thinners), said Dr. Wissam Gharib, who is leading the trial at Mon Medical. But this could broaden its use to all Afib patients, he said. This trial, he said, follows a similar trial, called Champion-AF, for the Watchman device by Boston Scientific. If the trials are successful, he said, 'This will be a paradigm shift in how we treat patients.' Abbott describes Afib as irregular electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart that cause those chambers to fibrillate, or quiver. This results in an irregular and frequently rapid heart rate that affects the heart's ability to pump blood, allowing blood to pool and collect in the left atrial appendage. Abbott explains that there is a muscular pouch connected to the left atrium of the heart called the left atrial appendage. If the blood clots are pumped from the appendage out into the body, the clots may flow to the brain and lead to stroke. The Amulet and the Watchman are both inserted via catheter to seal off the left atrial appendage. Gharib explains that patients diagnosed with Afib are first treated with blood thinners. For those who can't tolerate the medications, the Amulet and the Watchman provide an alternative approved by the FDA. The Catalyst and Champion trials, he said, aim to learn if the devices function as well as blood thinners and could be offered as an immediate alternative to blood thinners for everyone. Blood thinners, he said, carry various costs: among them are bleeding, clearances for dental work, pausing for surgical procedures, and the financial costs of being on the medications for life. If the trials prove the devices are as good as a blood thinner, a patient will have a choice. 'That's where these two trials are really pivotal in how we treat atrial fibrillation,' he said. The Champion trial – conducted at 141 locations, including Mon Medical – is complete and waiting on five-year results. Catalyst – being conducted at 132 locations, including Mon Medical – under way. Gharib said they have performed a number of procedures already and are still enrolling participants. He expects this portion of the trial will conclude at the end of the year. Volunteers are split into two groups: half get the Amulet, half get blood thinners. Participants have regular follow-up appointments for the five-year study period. Patients will know within a few weeks if the Amulet is working, he said, but the five-year period monitors long-term results and effects.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Boston Scientific lifts annual profit forecast, sees smaller tariff impact
Bengaluru: Boston Scientific raised its annual profit forecast on Wednesday, banking on strong demand for its heart devices , and trimmed its expectation for tariff-related costs to half of the previously projected amount. Shares of the company rose 4.8% in morning trading following the results. "Based on the current schedule of expected tariffs, we now anticipate a full-year headwind of about $100 million, down from a $200 million estimate," CFO John Monson said during a call with analysts. The company expects to offset the remaining tariff impact through strong sales performance, favorable product mix and spending control, Monson added. A rise in surgical procedures has boosted sales for medical device makers such as Boston Scientific, helping counter broader concerns about healthcare spending. Executives credited strong trial results and expanded product indications for fueling physician adoption of key cardiovascular devices such as Watchman and Farapulse, the firm's main growth drivers that saw steady quarterly demand. The company said the proposed rules by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding certain cardiac procedures would further benefit its technologies. Farapulse, which is approved in the U.S. for some patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation, competes with Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse and Medtronic's PulseSelect in the pulsed field ablation (PFA) market. Rival Johnson & Johnson last week posted strong medtech sales, aided by its heart devices, Varipulse and Trupulse. JP Morgan analyst Robbie Marcus said the profit forecast raise was larger than many had expected, especially given Boston Scientific is now moving past the initial U.S. rollout of Farapulse. "That said, the outlook still appears conservative to us," Marcus added. Boston Scientific now expects 2025 adjusted profit of $2.95 to $2.99 per share, up from its prior view of $2.87 to $2.94.
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Boston Scientific lifts annual profit forecast, sees smaller tariff impact
July 23 (Reuters) - Boston Scientific (BSX.N), opens new tab raised its annual profit forecast on Wednesday, banking on strong demand for its heart devices, and trimmed its expectation for tariff-related costs to half of the previously projected amount. Shares of the company rose 4.8% in morning trading following the results. "Based on the current schedule of expected tariffs, we now anticipate a full-year headwind of about $100 million, down from a $200 million estimate," CFO John Monson said during a call with analysts. The company expects to offset the remaining tariff impact through strong sales performance, favorable product mix and spending control, Monson added. A rise in surgical procedures has boosted sales for medical device makers such as Boston Scientific, helping counter broader concerns about healthcare spending. Executives credited strong trial results and expanded product indications for fueling physician adoption of key cardiovascular devices such as Watchman and Farapulse, the firm's main growth drivers that saw steady quarterly demand. The company said the proposed rules by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding certain cardiac procedures would further benefit its technologies. Farapulse, which is approved in the U.S. for some patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation, competes with Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ.N), opens new tab Varipulse and Medtronic's (MDT.N), opens new tab PulseSelect in the pulsed field ablation (PFA) market. Rival Johnson & Johnson last week posted strong medtech sales, aided by its heart devices, Varipulse and Trupulse. JP Morgan analyst Robbie Marcus said the profit forecast raise was larger than many had expected, especially given Boston Scientific is now moving past the initial U.S. rollout of Farapulse. "That said, the outlook still appears conservative to us," Marcus added. Boston Scientific now expects 2025 adjusted profit of $2.95 to $2.99 per share, up from its prior view of $2.87 to $2.94. It posted adjusted profit of 75 cents per share for the second quarter, topping analysts' average estimate of 72 cents, according to LSEG.
Irish Examiner
23-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Heart device sales help Boston Scientific beat profit estimates
Biomedical firm Boston Scientific has raised its annual profit forecast after strong demand for its heart devices helped the US medical device maker beat second-quarter profit estimates. Shares of the Massachusetts-based company rose by over 3% in pre-market trading following the results. A rise in surgical procedures has benefited medical device manufacturers such as Boston Scientific, as it boosted sales and helped offset broader concerns about healthcare spending pressures. Analysts said hospital utilization trends were robust during the second quarter, with hospital checks pointing to high single-digit volume growth - well above the historical average. Boston Scientific's main growth drivers, Farapulse and Watchman, which use short high-voltage pulses to treat certain abnormal heart rhythm conditions, saw strong demand during the quarter. Farapulse, approved in the US to treat certain patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation, competes with Johnson & Johnson's Varipulse and Medtronic's PulseSelect in the market for pulsed field ablation systems. Rival Johnson & Johnson last week posted strong medtech sales, aided by its heart devices, Varipulse and Trupulse. The company reported net sales of $5.06bn (€4.33bn) during the second quarter beating estimates of $4.9bn. The majority of these sales, $3.2bn, were in the US with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa accounting for just $878m. The company's cardiovascular unit reported quarterly sales of $3.34bn, surpassing estimates of $3.20bn. 'Excellent quarter' Chairman and chief executive of Boston Scientific, Mike Mahoney, said it was another 'excellent quarter' for the company 'marked by exceptional top-line performance' which delivered 'margin expansion and prioritized investment for future growth'. Boston Scientific expects 2025 adjusted profit of $2.95 to $2.99 per share, up from the prior view of $2.87 to $2.94 earlier. It posted an adjusted profit of 75c per share for the second quarter, topping analysts' average estimate of 72 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. Boston Scientific began operating in Ireland in 1994. It has a large campus in Cork as well as several other locations across the island. According to its company's Irish operations' most recent financial documents, it employed 6,405 during 2023. Reuters
Mint
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Who is Sara Arjun? From Maggi, LIC ads to movie sets — meet Ranveer Singh's co-star in Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar movie's first look has got everyone talking not only because of Ranveer Singh's intense energy, but also because of Sara Arjun — the movie's only actress shown so far. Singh's co-star Sara Arjun, who is just 20 years old, isn't new to the spotlight. Reportedly, Sara Arjun became the highest-paid child actress in India, earning up to ₹ 10 crore by 2023 — all of it just at the age of 18. Sara is the daughter of actor Raj Arjun, who has been awarded for movies such as Thalaivi, Dear Comrade, Watchman. According to a report by Indulge, Sara Arjun earned as much as ₹ 4 lakh per movie. With a string of standout roles, including her pivotal part in Mani Ratnam's epic 'Ponniyin Selvan' film, her movies raked in ₹ 800 crore globally. Born in Mumbai, in 2005, Sara Arjun began her career even before she could form full sentences. Starting her career in advertisements as a toddler, Sara had appeared in over 100 TV commercials before she turned six, mentions a report by OneIndia. Starring in commercials for brands such as Maggi, LIC, Sara became a familiar face for Indian households long before she forayed into movies, and eventually becoming actor Ranveer Singh's co-star in the much anticipated movie Dhurandhar. An Indian Express article from 2006 mentions that Sara has been modelling since she was 21-month-old and has played the 'lovable little girl' in ads for the brands. Besides playing a younger version of Aishwarya Rai's character in Mani Ratnam's epic Ponniyin Selvan saga, Sara Arjun was also seen in Hindi movies such as Ek Thi Daayan, 404, Jazbaa, and The Song of Scorpions. The young actress's Tamil hits also include Saivam, Sillu Karupatti. Now, Sara Arjun will once again be seen in the big screens, this time in the Dhurandhar movie. Directed by Aditya Dhar of "Uri: The Surgical Strike" fame, Dhurandhar movie's makers released the first look of the action thriller across social media platforms today, July 6. "Dhurandhar", featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, and actress Sara Arjun, is set to hit the big screens on December 5, said the makers of the movie, as per PTI. Uploading the teaser on his Instagram handle, Ranveer Singh wrote, "An inferno will rise. Uncover the true story of The Unknown Men. #Dhurandhar on 5th December 2025." The film, which was announced by Ranveer in July last year, also stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal in pivotal roles.
