Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) announced today that NICE issued guidance supporting the use of pulsed field ablation (PFA) for treating AFib.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which provides evidence-based recommendations to improve health and social care in the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales, reviewed the safety and efficacy of PFA, including the Boston Scientific Farapulse system.

Farapulse became the first commercialized cardiac PFA technology in Europe after receiving CE mark in 2021. The system treats AFib by delivering pulsed field energy through a catheter to ablate heart tissue.

According to Boston Scientific, studies deem Farapulse a clinically effective, cost-saving option for the NHS compared to standard cryoablation. The study, pulbished in BMJ Open, scrutinized various parameters, including procedure costs and complication rates. Over a 12-month period, the total average cost per patient for PFA came in at 3% (£343) less than cryoablation costs.

“AFib is estimated to directly cost the NHS between £1.4- £2.5 billion annually. With poorer AF outcomes for those from lower socioeconomic and different minority groups, PFA can improve health equity which is a priority for the NHS. Compared to some other ablation energy sources (i.e. cryoablation), patients treated with PFA have a lower residual burden of atrial fibrillation which is well-known and linked to improved quality of life and lower health care utilisation,” said Dr. Angelo Auricchio, chief medical officer, Rhythm Management, Boston Scientific, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “The Farapulse PFA system can help enable the NHS to achieve its shift from treatment to prevention under its 10-year health plan by addressing the risk of stroke and other complications.”