BSX · Earnings call · 2026Q3T · Full report

WATCHMAN Demand Slowdown

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP · 2026-10-28 · Importance 37 · Surprise 32 · In source text

WATCHMAN sales declined 7% in the U.S. and grew 4% internationally; U.S. concomitant procedures increased approximately 35%, while standalone procedures fell by a high-teens percentage. Management attributed the overall LAA closure market slowdown primarily to changes in patient identification and referral patterns as physicians assess recently published clinical evidence. It reported more than 200 medical education events in the second and third quarters and increased patient engagement, while adding dedicated commercial resources to support referral pathways and procedures. For Q4, management expected no improvement in U.S. standalone procedure performance, decelerating concomitant growth, and globally sequential flat to low-single-digit declines; it assumed similar market conditions in 2027, with additional competitive pressure.

Key facts

• Boston Scientific anticipates no improvement in U.S. WATCHMAN standalone procedure performance in Q4 2026 and continued deceleration in concomitant procedure growth.
• Boston Scientific expects WATCHMAN performance similar to Q4 in 2027, with additional pressure from a new competitive launch.
• Boston Scientific expects the WATCHMAN market baseline to remain similar to Q4 2026 in 2027, with competitive entry and no assumed market improvement.
• Boston Scientific held over 200 WATCHMAN medical education events in Q2 and Q3, reaching more than 2,000 referrers and implanters.

Impact estimates