FORWARD PAD Results Presented for J&J’s Shockwave Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter 

November 11, 2025—Johnson & Johnson MedTech announced the 1-year results from the FORWARD PAD study of its Shockwave Javelin peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter, a Forward IVL platform designed to modify calcified occlusive lesions in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The study demonstrated low rates of major amputation and cardiovascular death in a high-risk, complex patient population, stated the company.

The FORWARD PAD study results were presented by Principal Investigator JD Corl, MD, as a late-breaking clinical trial at VIVA 2025.

As summarized in the company’s press release, key 1-year findings from the data analysis include the following:

• 1% rate of target limb major amputation
• 3.9% rate of cardiovascular death
• 14.7% rate of clinically driven target lesion revascularization
• 72.7% primary patency above the knee and 61.5% below the knee

“These 1-year outcomes show that Shockwave Javelin demonstrated lasting durability, with most patients remaining free from repeat intervention,” commented Dr. Corl in the company’s press release. “Severe calcification has long been one of the greatest challenges in endovascular treatment of PAD, driving higher rates of complications, mortality, and limb loss. Until now, clinicians lacked a technology that could modify calcium safely to enable the crossing of heavily stenosed lesions. These results demonstrate that IVL is not just overcoming that barrier—it is redefining what’s possible and enabling optimized outcomes for a broader population of PAD patients.”

In March 2025, the company announced the launch of the Shockwave Javelin peripheral IVL catheter in the United States.