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Mar 14, 2025

Boston Scientific’s Renal Denervation Push: A Strategic Acquisition

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In a significant move within the medtech sector, Boston Scientific has re-entered the renal denervation (RDN) race with a bold acquisition. On March 5th, 2025, the company announced the $540 million acquisition of SoniVie Ltd., an Israeli firm developing an ultrasound-based renal denervation system to treat uncontrolled hypertension. This acquisition signals Boston Scientific’s confidence in the future of the renal denervation devices market, a field that’s showing strong momentum following recent FDA approvals from Medtronic and Recor Medical.

This article will delve into Boston Scientific’s renal denervation strategy, the potential of the RDN market, and how this acquisition could reshape the hypertension treatment landscape in the years to come.

Two Different Approaches: Boston Scientific’s Renal Denervation Strategy

Boston Scientific’s renal denervation strategy sets it apart from its competitors, as the company focuses on ultrasound technology in a field where most others, like Medtronic and ReCor, rely on radiofrequency (RF) energy. While RF-based devices have been the standard for years, ultrasound offers promising advantages in terms of ablation depth, procedure time, and vessel suitability, making it an appealing approach for the future of renal denervation.

Here’s a breakdown of how the two technologies compare:

Key Factors

Ultrasound-based RDN

RF-based RDN

Ablation Depth & Effectiveness

Penetrates deeper (6-7mm), targeting over 90% of the renal nerves for more comprehensive treatment.

Has shallower penetration (3-4mm), limiting its reach to about 60-70% of the renal nerves.

Ablation Pattern & Procedure Time

Uses circumferential ablation, resulting in fewer lesions and shorter procedure times.

Typically requires multiple spot or spiral lesions, leading to longer procedure durations.

Vessel Suitability

More effective in larger renal arteries, allowing for a wider range of patients to benefit from the treatment.

Less effective in larger vessels, limiting its applicability.

Additional Features

Often integrates cooling mechanisms to protect surrounding tissues from damage.

Lacks such protective measures, which increases the risk of collateral damage.

Blood Pressure Reduction

Shows superior blood pressure reduction in clinical trials, positioning it as the more effective treatment.

While still effective, it’s not as potent as ultrasound in lowering blood pressure in the long term.

As research continues and more clinical data emerges, Boston Scientific’s renal denervation portfolio is positioning itself to compete strongly with RF-based systems in the coming years.

Market Potential

Boston Scientific’s entry into the ultrasound-based renal denervation space is driven by the substantial market opportunity. The global RDN market reached an estimated $52.5 million in 2024, and with the company’s acquisition of SoniVie, it’s poised for explosive growth.

Our market projections indicate that the RDN sector is set to grow at a CAGR of more than 22.0% over the next five years, making it one of the fastest-growing medtech segments. While there are 1.3 billion people worldwide with hypertension, the total addressable market (TAM) for RDN is more limited. Only 10-20% of hypertension patients—those suffering from resistant hypertension—are eligible for RDN. This translates to 130 to 260 million potential patients globally.

The total addressable market for RDN, with catheter prices ranging from $16,000 to $22,000, is a staggering $2.1 trillion. This figure underscores the immense potential that companies like Boston Scientific see in RDN technologies as they push forward with innovative approaches to hypertension treatment.

Boston Scientific’s Renal Denervation Portfolio: A Long-Term Investment

This acquisition is a strategic move for Boston Scientific as it looks to re-establish its position in the RDN space. Unlike its recent acquisitions in more mature markets, this investment reflects the company’s commitment to a long-term strategy in the renal denervation market, which is still in the early stages of commercialization.

Boston Scientific’s previous attempt at RDN, the acquisition of Vessix Vascular in 2012, did not lead to the anticipated success. However, with the emergence of ultrasound-based technology and the growing momentum in the market, the company’s renewed focus on RDN could lead to greater success.

As more clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of RDN and reimbursement models begin to take shape, expect to see an acceleration in the adoption of these technologies. With Boston Scientific’s strategic investment, the company is betting on ultrasound-based RDN to lead the way in the future of hypertension treatment.

The Future of Boston Scientific’s Renal Denervation Portfolio

Looking forward, Boston Scientific’s renal denervation strategy is positioned to play a critical role in the future of hypertension management. The ultrasound-based system holds several key advantages over traditional RF-based technologies, including deeper ablation, shorter procedure times, and greater effectiveness in larger renal arteries.

As the RDN market continues to evolve, key drivers of growth will include:

  1. Wider Adoption: With more clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of ultrasound-based RDN, adoption will increase among healthcare providers and patients.
  2. Expanding Indications: As research explores new applications for RDN, the patient population eligible for treatment will grow.
  3. Improved Patient Access: As device costs come down and reimbursement models are established, more patients will gain access to RDN therapies.
  4. Ongoing Innovation: Boston Scientific and its competitors will continue to innovate in the space, making treatments safer, more efficient, and accessible.

Boston Scientific’s focus on ultrasound-based RDN represents a shift in the market, and as the company strengthens its renal denervation portfolio, it is set to become a key player in the growing hypertension treatment space.

Companies to Watch in the RDN Market

While Boston Scientific’s move is a significant one, other companies are also making strides in the renal denervation space. Notable competitors include:

  • Metavention: Developing the iRF Denervation System, a multi-RF electrode balloon system with integrated cooling.
  • Brattea: Creating a minimally invasive RF system with applications for diabetes and cancer pain management.
  • Healium Medical: Pioneering no-contact ultrasound-guided ablation technology with potential uses in lung denervation, heart failure, and tumor ablation.

These companies are helping to shape the future of RDN, and it will be exciting to see how Boston Scientific’s ultrasound-based approach stacks up against its offerings.

Conclusion

Boston Scientific’s acquisition of SoniVie and its renewed focus on ultrasound-based renal denervation is a significant move for the company and the broader hypertension treatment market. With a $2.1 trillion total addressable market, RDN presents a vast opportunity, and Boston Scientific’s renal denervation portfolio is poised to take full advantage of this growth.

As the market continues to evolve and more players enter the field, Boston Scientific’s commitment to advancing ultrasound-based RDN technologies will help position the company as a leader in this rapidly expanding market. Expect to see more innovation, increased competition, and heightened investment in RDN as the race to dominate the space intensifies.

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