Written By: Pharmacally Medical News Desk
Johnson & Johnson MedTech has announced its support for a new real-world data registry led by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), aimed at advancing clinical understanding of pulsed field ablation (PFA) in atrial fibrillation (AFib). The initiative is designed to generate large-scale, high-quality real-world evidence that reflects how PFA is being used in everyday clinical practice, beyond the controlled setting of clinical trials.
Commenting on the initiative, Michael Bodner, Company Group Chair, Electrophysiology & Neurovascular at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, said the company is sponsoring the registry to enable industry-wide real-world data generation at scale to help shape the future of AFib ablation. He noted that by complementing Johnson & Johnson’s own registries and clinical studies, the HRS data platform can help inform best practices, guide ongoing innovation, and ultimately improve outcomes for more people living with atrial fibrillation. He also emphasized that the effort reflects the company’s long-standing collaboration with the clinical community and its deep scientific roots in electrophysiology.
The HRS PFA Registry is expected to systematically collect procedural, clinical, and outcomes data from a broad range of centers performing PFA. Unlike traditional trials with strict inclusion criteria, real-world registries capture more diverse patient populations, operator experience, and practice patterns. This approach can offer valuable insights into safety, effectiveness, complication profiles, and longer-term outcomes across different healthcare settings.
Pulsed field ablation represents a newer approach to catheter ablation for AFib, using non-thermal electrical energy to selectively ablate myocardial tissue while minimizing injury to surrounding structures. Early studies have suggested that PFA may offer procedural efficiency and a favorable safety profile compared with conventional thermal techniques such as radiofrequency or cryoablation. However, widespread adoption depends on robust real-world evidence that confirms these benefits outside controlled trial environments.
By supporting the HRS registry, Johnson & Johnson MedTech aims to help address remaining evidence gaps, including how PFA performs across varied patient subgroups, operator learning curves, and real-world clinical workflows. The data generated may also support future guideline development, inform physician decision-making, and contribute to regulatory and health-system discussions as real-world evidence plays an increasing role in evaluating cardiovascular technologies.
Overall, the collaboration between Johnson & Johnson MedTech and the Heart Rhythm Society underscores a shared focus on evidence-based innovation in electrophysiology. As atrial fibrillation continues to place a growing burden on patients and healthcare systems worldwide, large-scale registries like this one are expected to play a key role in refining ablation strategies and improving long-term patient outcomes.
References
Johnson & Johnson Backs HRS Registry to Advance Real-World Evidence in PFA, 19 December 2025, https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-backs-hrs-registry-to-advance-real-world-evidence-in-pfa
Johnson & Johnson Supports HRS Registry to Advance Real-World Evidence in PFA, 19 December 2025, https://www.dicardiology.com/content/johnson-johnson-supports-hrs-registry-advance-real-world-evidence-pfa?utm_source=chatgpt.com
HRS launches data registry for PFA that treats AFib, J&J announces sponsorship, 19 December 2025, https://www.massdevice.com/hrs-launches-data-registry-pfa-jnj/?utm_source=chatgpt.com