Johnson & Johnson Boosts Financial Outlook on Strong Cardiovascular Device Sales

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has raised its financial projections for 2025, buoyed by robust growth in its cardiovascular device business. The company's MedTech division reported impressive gains, particularly in cardiac device sales, despite facing challenges in the competitive pulsed field ablation market.

Cardiovascular Division Leads Growth

J&J's cardiovascular division demonstrated remarkable performance in the second quarter of 2025, with sales reaching $2.31 billion, a 23.5% increase year-over-year. The electrophysiology segment contributed significantly, growing by 11% to $1.47 billion, with sales evenly split between domestic and international markets.

Tim Schmid, J&J MedTech's worldwide chairman, emphasized the company's determination to maintain its strong position in the electrophysiology and atrial fibrillation treatment space. "We are not rolling over," Schmid stated during the quarterly earnings call, referencing J&J's decades of experience under its previous Biosense Webster brand.

Varipulse System: Overcoming Challenges

The company's Varipulse pulsed field ablation system, which received FDA approval in November 2024, faced initial setbacks with a temporary pause in its U.S. rollout in January 2025 due to reports of strokes in treated patients. Operations resumed the following month, with J&J emphasizing that the catheter functions as intended while cautioning clinicians about potential risks associated with stacked ablations.

J&J recently announced an FDA-approved update to the Varipulse system's irrigation flow rate, based on real-world data collection. The company reported that over 10,000 Varipulse procedures have been performed worldwide, with a preliminary neurovascular complication rate of less than 0.5%.

Financial Performance and Future Outlook

The strong performance of J&J's cardiovascular division contributed to the company's overall growth. J&J MedTech reported a 7.3% increase in total sales, reaching $8.54 billion for the quarter. Including its pharmaceutical division, the company's total revenue grew by 5.8% to $23.7 billion.

In light of these results, J&J has increased its full-year sales estimates, raising the midpoint by $2 billion to 5.4%. CEO Joaquin Duato expressed optimism about the company's future, citing anticipated approvals and submissions in various therapeutic areas, including lung and bladder cancer, major depressive disorder, psoriasis, surgery, and cardiovascular treatments.

As J&J continues to navigate challenges in the pulsed field ablation market and capitalize on its strengths in cardiovascular devices, the company remains focused on driving growth and innovation across its diverse portfolio of medical technologies and pharmaceuticals.