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IVL Market Heats Up: Shockwave Leads the Charge
11 Jun
Summary
- Shockwave Medical pioneered IVL technology, launching its system in Europe in 2017.
- Johnson & Johnson acquired Shockwave Medical in a $13.1bn deal in June 2024.
- The IVL market is projected to exceed $2bn by 2034, attracting major medtech players.
The intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) market is witnessing intense competition, with Shockwave Medical, now part of Johnson & Johnson, aiming to maintain its leading edge. Shockwave first introduced its IVL system in Europe in 2017 and subsequently in the US in 2016. The company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in a significant $13.1bn transaction that concluded in June 2024.
Shockwave has continued to innovate, recently releasing its C2 Aero catheter in May 2026 for coronary artery disease. IVL technology uses acoustic shock waves to fracture calcifications, proving effective for treating calcified plaques common in peripheral and coronary artery diseases. The atherectomy device sector, which includes IVL, is forecasted to reach over $2bn by 2034, attracting new entrants.
Major medtech companies such as Boston Scientific and Stryker have acquired IVL system developers, while Abbott is advancing its own coronary IVL system. Boston Scientific, through Bolt Medical, and Elixir Medical, alongside Shockwave, currently offer approved IVL products. Shockwave Medical's chief medical officer, Dr. Nick West, stated that many physicians now consider Shockwave's IVL catheters their standard of care for calcified plaque treatment.
