Cardiovascular Today—January 15, 2026

This Cardiovascular weekly update highlights key developments, spanning population-level evidence, consensus guidance, device and imaging innovation, and early-stage gene and AI-driven interventions. The news reflects growing emphasis on prevention, integrated care, and technology-enabled delivery.

In Today’s Newsletter

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🧭 Light activity ties to lower mortality in CKM stages 2–4 [1] [US • 07 Jan 2026]

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/movement-matters-light-activity-led-to-better-survival-in-diabetes-heart-kidney-disease
Context: NHANES accelerometry cohort with 14-year follow-up, observational analysis.
Key point: More light activity associated with lower all-cause mortality in CKM stages 2–4 (endpoint specifics as reported, observational).
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

⚡ AFNET/EHRA consensus calls for transformative AF care [2] [EU • 07 Jan 2026]

https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/new-afnet-ehra-position-paper-calls-for-transformative-approach-to-atrial-fibril
Context: 10th AFNET/EHRA conference summary in EP Europace, >80 experts.
Key point: Shift toward integrated, patient-centered AF care with rhythm control, comorbidity management, and AI-driven risk assessment.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🖼️ UK–Germany imaging partnership to advance heart diagnostics [3] [08 Jan 2026]

https://www.rdm.ox.ac.uk/news/scientists-in-the-uk-and-germany-partner-to-advance-heart-imaging-research
Context: AMIIC (Oxford) with Charité, plus Ottawa associate partner; photon-counting CT and nanoparticle molecular imaging.
Key point: Program will deliver seminars, training, placements, and joint methods to accelerate cardiovascular imaging research.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧬 First patient treated with TIMP-3 gene therapy during CABG (PROTECT) [4] [UK • 12 Jan 2026]

https://www.progress.org.uk/first-patient-treated-with-gene-therapy-to-improve-heart-bypasses/
Context: Ex vivo viral vector delivers TIMP-3 to saphenous vein grafts in CABG.
Key point: Initial patient treated in feasibility study aiming to reduce graft failure; early recovery described, outcomes pending.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧬 PROTECT trial targets reduced SVG failure in CABG [5] [UK • 12 Jan 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/gene-therapy-trial-seeks-to-reduce-coronary-graft-failure/
Context: NHS Greater Glasgow and University of Glasgow collaboration; supported by MRC and BHF.
Key point: First patient received TIMP-3 therapy; approach designed for simplicity in the cardiac theatre.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🩹 Haemonetics buys Vivasure Medical, adds PerQseal Elite [6] [09 Jan 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/haemonetics-acquires-vessel-closure-specialist-vivasure-medical/
Context: Vivasure’s bioabsorbable patch for large-bore closure, CE-marked; PMA submitted in 2025.
Key point: Deal includes €100M upfront plus up to €85M contingent; ELITE study showed favorable short-term safety (per source).
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🧰 Edwards terminates JenaValve acquisition after FTC win [7] [US • 11 Jan 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/edwards-drops-jenavalve-acquisition-after-ftc-injunction-upheld/
Context: Court upheld FTC injunction citing US TAVI-AR competition concerns.
Key point: Edwards will advance internal AR programs, including Sojourn valve and JOURNEY trial.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🛰️ YorLabs ICE platform sees first clinical use post-510(k) [8] [US • 13 Jan 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/yorlabss-intracardiac-imaging-system-used-for-first-time-following-us-fda-clearance/
Context: Zero-CapEx 2D ICE imaging, 4D in development; first case at OHSU during AF ablation.
Key point: Single-operator high-resolution imaging integrated into cath lab workflow.
Implication: Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

♀️ CABG may outperform PCI long-term in women with severe CAD [9] [13 Jan 2026]

https://cardiovascularnews.com/bypass-surgery-may-offer-longer-term-benefit-to-women-with-severe-coronary-disease-compared-to-pci/
Context: EHJ publication, Ontario databases; propensity-matched retrospective cohort.
Key point: Lower MACCE and all-cause mortality with CABG vs PCI over long-term follow-up; stroke risk lower with PCI.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🇺🇸 JACC: US risk factors flat to worsening on outcomes [10] [US • 13 Jan 2026]

https://www.aonl.org/node/707959
Context: National analysis of burden, care quality, and mortality trends.
Key point: Hypertension prevalence unchanged 2009–2023, but hypertension-related cardiovascular deaths nearly doubled; diabetes prevalence and related deaths increased.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🤖 ARPA-H launches ADVOCATE for agentic AI in CVD care [11] [US • 13 Jan 2026]

https://origin.arpa-h.gov/news-and-events/arpa-h-revolutionize-cardiovascular-disease-management-clinical-agentic-ai
Context: ISO seeks teams to build patient-facing and supervisory AI agents, integrate wearables and EHRs.
Key point: Goal is first FDA-authorized autonomous agentic system to extend clinician reach in heart failure and post-MI care.
Implication: Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

Why it matters

CKM and AF care are shifting toward holistic, longitudinal management with lighter-intensity activity and rhythm control.
Structural heart and interventional workflows are changing via large-bore closure tech and capital-light imaging.
Gene therapy is moving from rare diseases to common surgical adjuncts in CABG.
Competition policy is actively shaping the TAVI-AR landscape in the US.
US cardiometabolic trends signal growing mortality burdens, pressing the need for scalable models, including AI agents.

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FAQ

What is the PROTECT study testing during CABG?

An ex vivo viral-vector TIMP-3 gene therapy applied to saphenous vein grafts to reduce neointimal hyperplasia and graft failure, with the first patient treated in the UK [4][5].

How does the AFNET/EHRA paper change AF management priorities?

It emphasizes integrated care that includes rhythm control, comorbidity treatment, stroke prevention, and AI-enabled risk assessment to reduce AF burden and costs [2].

What did the AHA-linked CKM study actually measure?

Accelerometer-based light activity and its association with mortality across CKM stages, showing a directional benefit in stages 2–4, acknowledging observational limits [1].

What is Haemonetics acquiring from Vivasure?

PerQseal Elite, a bioabsorbable large-bore arteriotomy and venotomy closure system, CE-marked, with a PMA submitted in 2025 [6].

Why did Edwards abandon the JenaValve deal?

A US court upheld an FTC injunction citing competition concerns in US TAVI-AR, leading Edwards to focus on its internal Sojourn valve and JOURNEY trial [7].

What is ARPA-H’s ADVOCATE aiming to deliver?

An FDA-authorized agentic AI that connects to records, manages prescriptions and referrals, and supports heart failure and post-MI patients under a supervisory safety agent [11].

Entities / Keywords

American Heart Association; cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome; AFNET; EHRA; EP Europace; AMIIC (Oxford); Charité Berlin; photon-counting CT; molecular imaging; PROTECT trial; TIMP-3 gene therapy; CABG; Haemonetics; Vivasure Medical; PerQseal Elite; Edwards Lifesciences; JenaValve; TAVI-AR; YorLabs; intracardiac echocardiography (ICE); European Heart Journal; JACC risk factor trends; ARPA-H; ADVOCATE; agentic AI.