Professor Chen Shaoliang presents their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
A medical device company based in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, has become the first in the world to offer a minimally invasive treatment for a common form of pulmonary hypertension, using a catheter-based procedure that targets nerve signals in the lungs.
The technology, known as pulmonary artery denervation (PADN), took center stage at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2026, held in Munich, Germany, from Aug 28 to 31. During the congress's Hot Line session, Professor Chen Shaoliang presented findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating PADN in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart failure, the most prevalent subtype of the condition.
Results showed that adding PADN to standard medical therapy significantly reduced the risk of clinical deterioration in these patients. The study was published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine, marking the first time a cardiovascular device originally developed in China has appeared in the journal.
PADN catheter. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
PADN uses radiofrequency energy to calm overactive sympathetic nerves in the pulmonary blood vessels, a mechanism that previous device-based therapies had not been able to address. It offers an extra treatment option for patients who remain symptomatic on medication alone.
Pulnovo Medical, the Wuxi-based company behind the device, received China's Innovative Medical Device designation in 2023 and began commercial sales in 2024. A year later, the PADN catheter and its generator obtained CE certification under the European Union's Medical Device Regulation.
Pulnovo Medical, a Wuxi-based company. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
The company has also secured regulatory approvals in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Baltic states. In the United States, a global multicenter clinical trial is now underway under an Investigational Device Exemption from the FDA, with the first US patients enrolled in August.
To date, about 1,500 PADN procedures have been performed worldwide, and the therapy has been cleared for use in seven countries and regions.
Pulnovo's progress mirrors the rapid expansion of Wuxi's biomedical industry. Over the past five years, the industry's output has surged from roughly 110 billion yuan ($16.4 billion) to more than 200 billion yuan, with annual growth averaging over 12 percent. The number of biotech companies in the city has climbed from about 1,600 to nearly 2,500.
With a mix of proprietary technology, a widening regulatory footprint, and expanding clinical evidence, Pulnovo Medical is positioning itself at the forefront of pulmonary hypertension and heart failure treatment.
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