New LifeVest WCD and redesigned garment enhance comfort and strengthen ZOLL’s market leadership
Asahi Kasei has announced a major milestone in its healthcare business with the U.S. launch of the next-generation LifeVest® wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) by its subsidiary, ZOLL® Medical. Alongside the new device, ZOLL has also completed the nationwide rollout of its most comfortable LifeVest garment to date, reinforcing its leadership in the wearable defibrillator market.
LifeVest is the world’s most widely used and clinically validated wearable defibrillator, supported by data from more than 140,000 patients across peer-reviewed studies. To date, the device has helped protect well over one million lives, making it the most established solution for patients who face a temporary elevated risk of sudden cardiac death.
ZOLL Medical is recognized globally for its advanced medical devices, software, and diagnostic technologies used across critical care settings. The LifeVest advancements align closely with Asahi Kasei’s long-term growth strategy, which identifies Critical Care as a First Priority business. Under this strategy, the company is targeting operating income of ¥55.0 billion by fiscal year 2027. The latest LifeVest innovations highlight ZOLL’s ongoing commitment to research-driven development and position the company to sustain growth in the expanding WCD category.
According to Ken Shinomiya, Leader of Asahi Kasei’s Healthcare sector, LifeVest continues to set the benchmark for wearable defibrillators. He emphasized that the combination of advanced technology, strong safety evidence, and improved patient comfort supports broader clinical adoption and long-term market expansion. These strengths, he noted, are expected to drive durable revenue growth and profitability for both ZOLL and Asahi Kasei in the years ahead.
ZOLL has led the WCD market for more than two decades, leveraging engineering expertise, clinician insights, patient feedback, and a robust base of clinical evidence. Increasing numbers of physicians and patients are selecting LifeVest, particularly for individuals with newly diagnosed heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, where the risk of sudden cardiac death is elevated. Recent findings from the landmark SCD-PROTECT study further validate the clinical effectiveness of the LifeVest WCD in these patient populations.
A key highlight of the latest update is the redesigned LifeVest garment, which patients have shown a clear preference for due to its improved comfort and ease of use. Building on previous generations, the new garment is designed to integrate seamlessly into patients’ daily routines outside the hospital environment. Features include lightweight, athleisure-inspired performance fabric, soft plush straps, flat-lock stitching to reduce skin irritation, and the broadest size range available, accommodating chest sizes from 26 to 56 inches.
ZOLL has also been an early innovator in applying artificial intelligence to wearable defibrillator technology. In 2018, the company introduced an AI-enhanced algorithm that significantly reduced false alarms, achieving a median of zero false alarms at 90 days. The latest-generation LifeVest continues to utilize this AI-driven algorithm, further strengthening reliability and patient confidence.
Asahi Kasei’s Healthcare sector continues to demonstrate strong momentum, supported by steady unit growth, high levels of recurring revenue driven by standardized clinical use, and solid operating margins. The launch of the next-generation LifeVest WCD underscores the group’s strategy to expand its presence in critical care while delivering meaningful innovation that improves patient outcomes.
About ZOLL
ZOLL, an Asahi Kasei company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and cardiac monitoring, circulation enhancement and CPR feedback, supersaturated oxygen therapy, data management, ventilation, therapeutic temperature management, and sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, as well as lay rescuers, improve patient outcomes in critical cardiopulmonary conditions. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.
About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 50,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world’s challenges through its three business sectors of Healthcare, Homes, and Material. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.
Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.
Asahi Kasei Corporation (TSE: 3407) is committed to contributing to life and living for people around the world while generating superior long-term returns for shareholders.
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