Physician enthusiasm for new pulsed field ablation (PFA) systems suggests rapid adoption, benefiting device manufacturers bringing these products to market, according to analysts who attended the Heart Rhythm Society’s (HRS) annual meeting over the weekend.

Discussions about PFA, a catheter-based cardiac ablation technique to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), were prevalent at the Boston meeting. Citi Research analyst Joanne Wuensch noted the overwhelming amount of data and discussions on PFA, with late-breaking data presentations drawing large numbers of physicians.

Truist Securities analyst Richard Newitter reported that late-breaking study data on PFA devices from Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and a subset analysis from Boston Scientific’s Advent trial validate the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Feedback from electrophysiologists indicates a steep adoption curve, with 50% to 70% of doctors likely to convert cases to the procedure initially. Newitter noted robust initial excitement among U.S. doctors, predicting Boston Scientific would gain the most significant first-mover advantage in the U.S. market, soon followed by Medtronic.

Boston Scientific received FDA approval for the Farapulse PFA device in January, while Medtronic gained U.S. approval for its PulseSelect system in December. J&J recently filed an FDA submission for its Varipulse platform, and Abbott is developing a device called Volt.

PFA is seen as a potentially safer alternative to traditional radiofrequency and cryoablation for treating AFib, the most common form of irregular heart rhythm, with shorter operating times as an additional advantage. Currently, antiarrhythmic drugs are the recommended first treatment for AFib but are associated with adverse events, according to the HRS. Unlike thermal ablation, PFA disables cardiac cells using electricity instead of heat or extreme cold.

The HRS stated that recent technological advancements in catheter design and energy delivery could pave the way for wider adoption of PFA in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Stifel analyst Rick Wise reported that the promise of safer and faster PFA procedures was repeatedly reaffirmed during the HRS meeting, with both physician and company commentary indicating that PFA uptake is occurring more rapidly than expected. Wise added that PFA adoption in the U.S. is progressing faster than in Europe due to intense physician demand and less sensitivity to pricing.