Ep. 548 Winding Down Neuwave: Impact on Interventional Radiology with Dr. Joshua Kuban

BackTable Vascular & Interventional

It’s official — NeuWave is exiting the market. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Beck hosts a conversation with Dr. Josh Kuban, an interventional radiologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, to discuss the impact that NeuWave's microwave tumor ablation technology has had on the field of interventional oncology and the recent announcement of its discontinuation, scheduled for March 2026.

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This podcast is supported by:

Medtronic Emprint

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SYNPOSIS

Dr. Kuban reflects on NeuWave’s innovative beginnings in microwave ablation, which expanded to include four distinct systems and advanced ablation confirmation software. At its peak, the company held over 50% of the microwave ablation market and played a pivotal role in reshaping interventional radiology's view of the safety and effectiveness of this treatment approach.

He also shares how NeuWave’s departure will affect his practice and outlines the steps he’s taking to prepare his team for the transition to alternative devices. The discussion broadens to the current landscape of microwave ablation, spotlighting emerging players in ablation confirmation software and robotic technologies.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction
2:14 - Overview of Neuwave’s Rise
7:01 - Decision to Discontinue
14:56 - Navigating the Switch Different Technologies
21:54 - Buyback Program
24:33 - Forecasting New Developments

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RESOURCES

BackTable IND Ep. 23- Approach the Problem with Vision: Part I of the Neuwave Story : https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/23/approach-the-problem-with-vision-part-i-of-the-neuwave-story

BackTable IND Ep. 24- Trials and Tribulations: Part II of the Neuwave Story: https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/24/trials-tribulations-part-ii-of-the-neuwave-story

BackTable IND Ep. 25- Next Level Stuff, the Exit: Part III of the Neuwave Story:
https://www.backtable.com/shows/industry/podcasts/25/next-level-stuff-the-exit-part-iii-of-the-neuwave-story

Johnson & Johnson Press Release Regarding Discontinuation of NeuWave:
https://www.medline.com/media/assets/pdf/vendor-list/Disco_notice.pdf
MedTronic Emprint Ablation: https://www.medtronic.com/covidien/en-gb/products/ablation-systems/emprint-ablation-system.html

Varian MicroThermX Ablation:
https://www.varian.com/products/interventional-oncology/microthermx

Safety and Effectiveness of Microwave Ablation of Liver Tumors: Initial Real-World Results from the Multinational NeuWave Observational Liver Ablation (NOLA) Registry (Odisio, 2025):
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39848330/