1. Use of antidepressant medication linked to substantial increase in sudden cardiac death risk
The use of antidepressant (AD) medications has been linked to a substantial increase in the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), as per research presented at the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) congress (30 March–1 April 2025, Vienna, Austria).
2. J&J’s dual-energy ablation catheter deemed safe and effective in first-in-human SmartfIRE study
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) MedTech has announced 12-month results from the SmartfIRE study, delivered as a late-breaking presentation at the 2025 EHRA congress, with findings showing that use of the company’s dual-energy Thermocool Smarttouch SF catheter was 86.9% effective when patients were treated with high adherence to the recommended ablation parameters.
3. Biotronik announces first procedure involving CRT-D implant developed for LBBA pacing
Biotronik has announced the successful first-in-human implantation of a device from its new Acticor/Rivacor Sky implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronisation therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) portfolio that has been specifically engineered to support conduction system pacing via left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP).
4. Factor XI inhibitor ‘lives up to promise’ of reduced bleeding events in AF patients
Researchers from Mass General Brigham (Boston, USA) have evaluated a drug that represents a new class of anticoagulants known as Factor XI inhibitors for treating patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as part of the AZALEA-TIMI 71 study—reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine that the Factor XI inhibitor abelacimab (Anthos Therapeutics) significantly reduced bleeding compared to rivaroxaban, a standard-of-care anticoagulant.
5. Medtech insight: Pulsed field ablation is a “once-in-a-career opportunity”
Boston Scientific’s vice president (VP) of rhythm management, Caroline Bravo, speaks to Cardiac Rhythm News about the arrival of pulsed field ablation (PFA) for atrial fibrillation, and her expectations for the technology in the coming year.
6. PROFID EHRA: A landmark trial attempting to redefine prevention of sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction
In a Cardiac Rhythm News guest article, chief investigators Nikolaos Dagres and Gerhard Hindricks (both Berlin, Germany) provide a window into the PROFID EHRA study—an international, investigator-initiated trial set up with the goal of redefining the prevention of SCD after myocardial infarction (MI).
7. First experience of novel transseptal puncture device shared at STS 2025
First-in-human results of a novel transseptal puncture device from Protaryx Medical were presented at the 2025 Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) annual meeting (25–27 January, Los Angeles, USA).
8. ESC releases “groundbreaking” consensus statement on conduction system pacing
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has released what it describes as a “groundbreaking” consensus statement on conduction system pacing (CSP), marking a “significant milestone in the evolution of pacing therapy”. The document was officially presented at the 2025 EHRA congress and simultaneously published in EP Europace.
9. J&J MedTech presents new Omny-IRE and VARIPURE study data at HRS 2025
J&J MedTech has announced positive initial three-month results from the Omny-IRE study evaluating the investigational Omnypulse platform in patients with paroxysmal AF. The data, unveiled as a late-breaking presentation at the 2025 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) annual meeting (24–27 April, San Diego, USA), demonstrated the potential for both high acute effectiveness and a promising safety profile.
10. Medtronic announces first patient enrolment in trial assessing VT treatment with Affera system and Sphere-9 catheter
Medtronic has announced that the first patient has been enrolled in a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) early feasibility study evaluating the Affera mapping and ablation system with the Sphere-9 catheter using new investigational radiofrequency (RF) and pulsed field (PF) waveforms in the treatment of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT).
