Accelerating AVIM Therapy for Hypertensive Heart Disease: The Medtronic / Orchestra BioMed Innovation Partnership - Powered by Orchestra Biomed-Accelerating AVIM Therapy for Hypertensive Heart Disease: The Medtronic / Orchestra BioMed Innovation Partnership

Accelerating AVIM Therapy for Hypertensive Heart Disease: The Medtronic / Orchestra BioMed Innovation Partnership - Powered by Orchestra Biomed

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The session introduced AVIM therapy, a pacemaker-based algorithm designed to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, especially those already receiving pacemakers. Speakers explained that hypertension affects over a billion people worldwide and is often difficult to manage with medications because of adherence, cost, and side effects.  <br /><br />AVIM (atrioventricular interval modulation) works by alternating short and normal AV intervals to reduce preload and “retrain” baroreceptors, producing sustained blood pressure reduction. Early studies and the Moderato 2 trial showed strong results, including immediate and durable ambulatory blood pressure drops, plus potential benefits for diastolic function and heart remodeling.  <br /><br />A key theme was the unusual partnership between Orchestra Biomed and Medtronic: Orchestra developed the therapy, while Medtronic provides the pacemaker platform and commercialization pathway. The collaboration is seen as a new model for medtech innovation.  <br /><br />The ongoing BackBeat Global pivotal trial is enrolling pacemaker-indicated patients with uncontrolled hypertension to test AVIM in a double-blind, randomized design. Speakers also discussed future possibilities, including use in leadless devices and broader populations such as patients with hypertensive heart disease and HFpEF.

Keywords

AVIM therapy

hypertension

pacemaker-based algorithm

atrioventricular interval modulation

blood pressure reduction

Moderato 2 trial

Orchestra Biomed

Medtronic collaboration