Abbott Prepares to Enter PFA Market with Volt System, Expands Diabetes Portfolio

Abbott Laboratories is gearing up to make significant strides in both cardiac ablation and diabetes care, as revealed in the company's recent third-quarter earnings call. CEO Robert Ford outlined Abbott's strategic positioning in the competitive pulsed field ablation (PFA) market and highlighted upcoming innovations in continuous glucose monitoring technology.

Abbott's PFA Strategy: "Right on Time" with Volt System

Despite competitors like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson already launching their PFA systems in the U.S., Abbott's CEO Robert Ford remains confident in the company's approach. "We're right on time, and we're complete with the full portfolio," Ford stated during the earnings call.

Abbott's Volt PFA system, which received CE mark approval in Europe in March, is expected to obtain FDA approval in 2026. The company touts several distinguishing features for Volt, including:

• Deeper and more durable lesions
• Real-time contact visualization
• Potential for procedures under conscious sedation rather than general anesthesia

These advancements could position Abbott competitively in the rapidly growing PFA market for treating heart rhythm disorders.

The electrophysiology business, which includes PFA devices, reported $705 million in sales for Q3, marking a 15% year-over-year increase. Ford anticipates further growth in this segment with the upcoming Volt system launch.

Expanding Diabetes Care with Dual-Analyte Sensor

Abbott is also making significant progress in its diabetes care portfolio. The company plans to introduce a novel dual-analyte sensor capable of measuring both glucose and ketones. This innovation could play a crucial role in helping patients avoid diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes.

The diabetes business segment demonstrated strong performance, generating $2.06 billion in Q3 sales, a 19% increase year-over-year. Abbott sees further growth potential in this area, particularly with the expansion of Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to include Type 2 diabetes patients using basal insulin.

Ford noted that the basal insulin segment in the U.S. is currently only 20% penetrated, indicating significant room for growth. Additionally, the company is optimistic about potential broader Medicare coverage for Type 2 diabetes patients not using insulin, with support from the American Diabetes Association.

While Abbott expects proposed coverage for this expanded group to emerge next year, the company has not factored a final coverage decision into its 2026 forecast, maintaining a cautious approach to financial projections.