Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Johnson & Johnson / Shockwave Medical

2024 · Acquisition/Merger · $13.1B · Complete

J&J paid $13.1B for Shockwave Medical's intravascular lithotripsy technology—a bet that sonic pressure waves can become the standard for treating calcified coronary and peripheral artery disease. The acquisition targeted a $7B+ addressable market in interventional cardiology.

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Top 25 largest deals of the 2020s

Ranks computed across 828 graded deals (Critic + Outcome Score both present).

The coverage arc

Jan 08, 2003 Wikipedia Neutral

J&J acquired Shockwave Medical for $13.1B for medical device manufacturing.

Sep 25, 2025 Medical Design and Outsourcing Bullish

Johnson and Johnson sealed the deal to acquire Shockwave Medical for $13.1 billion, adding the only commercially available intravascular lithotripsy platform…

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J&J acquired Shockwave Medical for $13.1B for medical device manufacturing.

Key facts

Disease & market context

Coronary Artery Disease (Calcified)

Competitive Landscape

The Shockwave C2 / C2+ Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) catheter, FDA PMA approved February 2021 for severely calcified coronary lesions, uses sonic pressure waves to modify calcium before stent placement and is the only IVL device approved for coronary use — giving it an MOA-exclusive class. The competitive landscape splits across three calcium-modification MOA classes. Rotational/orbital atherectomy (plaque ablation via high-speed burr or eccentric crown): Boston Scientific's Rotablator (rotational atherectomy, acquired via Boston Scientific portfolio) and Abbott/Cardiovascular Systems Inc.'s Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (FDA approved 2013 for coronary) are the primary competing MOA; these represent the current standard for heavily calcified lesions but carry perforation and slow-flow risk. Excimer laser atherectomy (photoacoustic ablation): Philips/Spectranetics ELCA (Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy) catheter, approved for in-stent restenosis and complex lesions. Specialty scoring/cutting balloons (surface modification, not calcium fracture): Boston Scientific AngioSculpt and Wolverine cutting balloon, Abbott's Chocolate XD, OrbusNeich Scoreflex. Pre-IVL standard-of-care non-compliant high-pressure balloons remain universal adjuncts. Per J&J's 2024 Form 10-K disclosure supporting the $13.1B Shockwave acquisition, IVL's differentiated safety profile vs. atherectomy drives adoption; CSI/Abbott orbital atherectomy is the primary franchise threat. Source: FDA Shockwave C2 PMA approval.

Peripheral Artery Disease (Calcified)

Competitive Landscape

The Shockwave S4 / M5+ Peripheral Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) catheter, FDA 510(k) cleared (original M5 PMA 2016, S4 variants follow-on) for calcified peripheral arterial disease, uses sonic pressure waves to modify medial and intimal calcium in femoropopliteal, iliac, and below-the-knee vessels. The peripheral calcium-modification competitive landscape splits across four MOA classes. Directional atherectomy (blade-based plaque excision and capture): Abbott/CSI's HawkOne and TurboHawk (acquired from Medtronic divestiture), and Philips/Spectranetics Phoenix. Rotational/orbital atherectomy (high-speed abrasion): Abbott/CSI Diamondback 360 Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System and Boston Scientific Jetstream rotational atherectomy. Excimer laser atherectomy: Philips/Spectranetics CVX-300 with Turbo-Elite and Turbo-Power peripheral laser atherectomy catheters. Drug-coated balloons and drug-eluting stents (post-modification vessel prep/treatment, adjacent MOA): Medtronic IN.PACT Admiral DCB, Becton Dickinson/Bard Lutonix DCB, Boston Scientific Ranger DCB, and Cook Medical Zilver PTX drug-eluting stent — these frequently follow IVL or atherectomy for sustained patency. Specialty scoring balloons: Boston Scientific AngioSculpt PTA, Abbott Chocolate PTA. Per J&J's 2024 Form 10-K, Shockwave peripheral IVL generated ~$200M+ in 2023 revenue; Abbott/CSI orbital atherectomy is the principal franchise threat in calcified PAD. Source: FDA Shockwave M5 510(k).

Deal timeline

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Johnson & Johnson / Shockwave Medical (this deal)2024$13.1B76
Johnson & Johnson / Legend Biotech Corporation2017$9.0B96
Johnson & Johnson / Centocor Inc.1999$4.9B92
Johnson & Johnson / Cougar Biotechnology, Inc.2009$970M91
Johnson & Johnson / Actelion Ltd2017$30.0B90
Johnson & Johnson / Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc.2013$1.0B89
Johnson & Johnson / Legend Biotech Corporation2017$350M83

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