Abbott will roll out its AVEIR dual chamber (DR) leadless pacemaker system across the UK, to treat patients with abnormal or slow heart rhythms.
Unlike traditional pacemakers that use leads, AVEIR DR is implanted directly into the heart’s interior wall. It features implant-to-implant (i2i) technology, enabling communication between two devices across separate chambers. Since the devices are independent, one pacemaker can be implanted initially, with the second added later if needed.
Many people require assistance in the right atrium and the right ventricle and Abbott says they have developed the first device that is both leadless and dual chamber responding. In July 2023, Abbott received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for AVEIR DR. The device secured a CE mark in Europe in June 2024.
Abbott is not the only device company operating in the leadless pacemaker space. Medtronic had a head start, with its dual chamber leadless pacemaker Micra AV2 securing US approval in May 2023. However, Micra AV2 can only deliver ventricular therapy – addressing only 50% of the needs in the pacemaker market – meaning Abbott successfully gained market share from rival Medtronic.
The AVEIR DR’s reported higher ease of retrievability makes it likely to become the pacemaker of choice for younger patients, who may well receive a replacement in their lifetime, according to a GlobalData analyst. According to the analyst, challenges such as cost and the need for specialised training are addressed, leadless pacemakers will likely become a more common and preferred option for patients with heart rhythm disorders.
Abbott reported total worldwide sales of $10.37bn for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $9.97bn in Q2 last year, up 4% on a reported basis and 7.4% on an organic basis. The medical device giant attributed part of this surge to growth in its structural heart care portfolio.
Abbott UK and Ireland cardiac rhythm management general manager Ross Campbell said: “The seamless synchronisation of the two leadless pacemakers in Abbott’s AVEIR Dual Chamber system is a significant project we’ve worked hard to engineer. By offering this effective treatment option in the UK, we hope to significantly improve the lives of those living with irregular heart rhythms across the country.”
This news comes on the heels of Abbott’s recent Class I recall of its FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors; a key component of the company’s widely used continuous glucose monitoring system. The recall, initiated in July 2024, was prompted by incorrect readings from the sensors.
