Johnson & Johnson (J&J), a major medical device manufacturer, has announced the launch of its Javelin intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter in Europe. The Javelin catheter is J&J’s latest advancement in its IVL portfolio, and follows the Javelin’s successful launch in the US in March of 2025. IVL has grown rapidly since its introduction in 2015 in Europe, with further European product launches in 2018 and a US launch in 2021. J&J has emerged as the clear leader for IVL, as competing devices remain in the clinical development stage. With the introduction of the Javelin catheter to Europe, it is likely that J&J will see continued growth for its IVL portfolio, especially as competition remains sparse.
Shockwave Medical, the subsidiary of J&J responsible for its IVL devices, has been the only major player in the IVL market since 2015. J&J acquired the company in early 2024, incorporating it into J&J’s medtech division. Other large companies have either announced their own development of IVL devices or acquired smaller companies working within the same therapy area. Abbott has announced its own research and development of a competing device, and Boston Scientific announced its acquisition of Bolt Medical in early 2025. However, neither company has yet had a product reach the commercial market. IVL is a medical technology that uses focused shockwaves to destroy buildups in calcified coronary and peripheral arteries. Currently, many of Shockwave’s catheters utilise balloons to assist in delivering the sonic waves that break up the calcified lesions. The Javelin is J&J’s first catheter to not require a balloon to operate, which allows it to operate on lesions that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to treat with other IVL devices. With virtually no other similar devices currently on the market, it is likely that this product launch will continue to cement J&J’s market lead within the IVL space. According to estimates from GlobalData’s Device Approval Analyzer, market approval of competing products from Abbott and Boston Scientific could take until 2028 to be commercially available. This provides J&J with a commanding lead in both overall sales and research time, with all current sales in the IVL market being Shockwave catheters. Due to this, Abbott and Boston Scientific will have to demonstrate a significant improvement in clinical outcomes or cost for doctors to switch over to a new product with proven reliability. In the current and near-future IVL market, it is unlikely that J&J will have any major competition. Until large medtech manufacturers can reach the market with their own devices, IVL treatments will continue to use Shockwave catheters. With the clinical success and ease of use of these devices, it remains likely that the IVL market will grow further. With current market conditions, J&J will continue its decade-long lead and dominance in the IVL market.
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