ARTICLE SUMMARY:
J&J recently acquired Laminar, the maker of a differentiated left atrial appendage occlusion device, a structural heart fix that prevents stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. It thus executes on its stated goal of upping its mix of high-growth products.
In late November, Johnson & Johnson announced that it acquired Laminar, the developer of a next-generation device for left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). J&J paid $400 million up front for the company and will make additional payments upon the execution of clinical and regulatory milestones.
With the Laminar purchase, J&J gains a differentiated LAAO device to compete in a market with an estimated compound annual growth rate of more than 20%. It’s not the strategic’s first LAAO program; J&J gained the WaveCrest LAA closure device when it acquired Coherex in 2015 (and that product is now in a Phase III pivotal trial estimated to be completed in January 2024, according to clinicaltrials.gov). But Laminar, which recently received FDA approval for a pivotal study slated to begin in early 2024, offers advantages in addressing the limitations of earlier devices.
