Boston Scientific invested hundreds of millions of dollars over a decade ago to acquire the Watchman heart implant. The product faced a years-long debate at the Food and Drug Administration before eventually earning marketing approval for a limited set of patients. Despite lingering questions from doctors and various obstacles, the company has developed a broader campaign to promote the implant beyond that restricted target demographic.
Key points
Boston Scientific is actively executing plans to expand the heart implant's reach past it…: Boston Scientific is actively executing plans to expand the heart implant's reach past its original patient group.
Commercial sales efforts persist despite ongoing questions and concerns raised by practic…: Commercial sales efforts persist despite ongoing questions and concerns raised by practicing doctors.
The company continues to invest heavily in promoting the device despite facing multiple s…: The company continues to invest heavily in promoting the device despite facing multiple setbacks.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Despite all the setbacks, Boston Scientific won’t stop pushing the Watchman.
The medical-device giant committed hundreds of millions to acquire the tiny heart implant more than a decade ago, and then endured a years-long debate at the Food and Drug Administration over whether to approve it.
When that approval finally came through, for a limited pool of patients, Boston Scientific was prepared with a plan for something much larger.
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