March 23, 2026 – CHELMSFORD, MASS. – ZOLL®, an Asahi Kasei company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, will highlight the latest sudden cardiac death research, case experiences for heart failure readmission reduction, and two Innovation Stage presentations at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session & Expo (ACC.26), March 28-30, 2026. ZOLL will sponsor a slate of educational programs to engage and connect clinicians with emerging evidence and evolving practices in cardiac care:

The ACC Innovation Stage will host two ZOLL-sponsored presentations:

• A friendly debate about approaches to HFrEF patient management with GDMT, including the LifeVest® wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) as a treatment option.
• A case study highlighting a reduction in HF readmission to single digits with the implementation of ZOLL's Heart Failure Management System (HFMS).

ZOLL is sponsoring the ACC Women in Cardiology Mix N’ Mingle, as well as events for cardiology fellows and residents.

ZOLL will also spotlight innovations in Booth 2437, including the LifeVest WCD, ZOLL HFMS, TherOx® SuperSaturated Oxygen Therapy, and WatchPAT® sleep apnea solutions.

Join the Debate – HFrEF Patient Management in the Contemporary Era of GDMT

The ACC Innovation Stage will host “She Says/He Says: HFrEF Patient Management in the Contemporary Era of GDMT: A Friendly Debate” on Saturday, March 28, 9:45 a.m. -10:15 a.m. Dr. Tara Hrobowski-Blackman, MD, HCA Florida Largo Hospital, and Dr. Gery Tomassoni, MD, FACC, FHRS, Baptist Health Lexington, will debate approaches to managing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients, review the latest research including SCD-PROTECT, and discuss treatment options including the LifeVest WCD.

SCD-PROTECT confirms that early SCD risk in HFrEF patients remains high, even with widespread use of GDMT.¹ In SCD-PROTECT, the modern LifeVest WCD delivered 23.4+ hour/day median compliance,¹ validating that LifeVest ranks #1 in patient compliance this decade in real-world and peer-reviewed data.^1,2,3 The inappropriate shock rate of 0.5% is the lowest reported in contemporary WCD literature.¹ See the latest advancements to the modern LifeVest in Booth 2437 or at lifevestinnovation.com.

The Potential to Reduce Heart Failure Readmissions to Single Digits

The ACC Innovation Stage will host “The Potential to Reduce HF Readmissions to Single Digits” on Sunday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Chelsea E. Christensen, PA-C, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, will discuss how the use of ZOLL Heart Failure Management System (HFMS) has impacted 30- and 90-day heart failure readmission rates. ZOLL HFMS is a patch-based pulmonary fluid monitor that has been shown to reduce heart failure readmission rates by 38% or more.⁴

ZOLL Supports Women in Cardiology and Empowers Future Leaders

ZOLL is proudly sponsoring the ACC Women in Cardiology Mix N’ Mingle, Saturday, March 28, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ZOLL’s support of the event reflects a longstanding commitment to advancing women in cardiology through mentorship and leadership initiatives.

“Self-awareness, self-respect, and self-confidence are core components needed by emerging women leaders in cardiology. Programs such as the Women in Cardiology Mix N’ Mingle, supported by ZOLL, offer opportunities for dialogue and networking, and for peer and senior leadership mentoring,” commented Nanette C Wenger, MD, MACC, MACP, FAHA, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) Emeritus; Eminent Physician; Emory University School of Medicine; Consultant, Emory Heart and Vascular Center; Founding Consultant, Emory Women's Heart Center. “Cultivating relationships, team development, perseverance, responsibility and accountability, and building diversity and inclusiveness are byproducts as well as goals of these valuable, educational, and informational sessions.”

Annabelle Santos Volgman, MD FACC FAHA, co-founder and medical director of the RUSH Heart Center for Women and a founding partner of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, added, “Programs like the ACC Women in Cardiology Mix N’ Mingle create something that formal education alone cannot – a community. As female cardiologists, we benefit incredibly from environments that foster connection, mentorship, and shared experience. When we intentionally invest in women through both networking and educational programming, we not only strengthen individual careers and the future of cardiovascular medicine but also improve patient outcomes.”

ZOLL will also sponsor a series of high-impact events that highlight future leaders and spark meaningful connections between cardiology fellows and residents.

• The Fellows-in-Training Mix N’ Mingle – Saturday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. is designed to connect fellows with nationally recognized faculty across major cardiovascular focus areas, creating an accessible forum for career guidance, mentorship, and real-world Q&A.
• The Medical Student/Resident Mix N’ Mingle – Sunday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. is a pipeline-building session where medical students and residents engage directly with fellows to ask candid questions about training, career pathways, and how to succeed in cardiology.

ZOLL Portfolio of Innovations That Redefine Protection

ZOLL technologies are used to support the care of tens of thousands of cardiac patients every day. In addition to LifeVest and HFMS, ZOLL’s booth will feature more portfolio innovations:

TherOx SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO₂) Therapy is the first FDA-approved, catheter-based therapy to safely and effectively reduce infarct size in randomized controlled trials.^5,6 SSO₂ treats ischemic myocardium by delivering high levels of dissolved oxygen (pO2 = 760-1000 mmHg) to the heart, without impacting door-to-balloon time.

WatchPAT Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) is a sleep apnea diagnostic aid that utilizes the peripheral arterial tonometry signal to enable simple testing while delivering clinical accuracy and proven reliability.^7,8,9 Cleared by the FDA initially in 2001, WatchPAT is prescribed to more than one million patients annually in the U.S., delivering trusted results for clinicians and their patients.^7,10

About ZOLL

ZOLL, an Asahi Kasei company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance 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 businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With 50,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Healthcare, Homes, and Material. Its healthcare operations include devices and systems for critical care, products and services for the manufacture of biotherapeutics, and a growing portfolio of specialty pharmaceuticals. 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 www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

¹ David Duncker, Eloi Marijon, Marco Metra, et al. Sudden cardiac death in newly diagnosed non-ischaemic or ischaemic cardiomyopathy assessed with a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator: the German nationwide SCD-PROTECT study, European Heart Journal, 2025;ehaf668, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf668
² Garcia R, Combes N, Defaye P, et al. Wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with a transient risk of sudden cardiac death: the WEARIT-France cohort study. EP Europace. 2020;23(1):73-81. doi:10.1093/europace/euaa268
³ Data on file, 90d0258_a01. 2021 Commercial Compliance Analysis
⁴ Boehmer, J, Cremer, S, Abo-Auda, W. et al. Impact of a Novel Wearable Sensor on Heart Failure Rehospitalization: An Open-Label Concurrent-Control Clinical Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol HF. 2024 Dec, 12 (12) 2011–2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchf.2024.07.022
⁵ Stone GW, et al. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2009;366– 375
⁶ O’Neill WW, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50; No.5. 397-405
⁷ 510(k) Premarket Notification
⁸ Yalamanchali, Sreeya, et al. “Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea by Peripheral Arterial Tonometry.” JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, vol. 139, no. 12, 1 Dec. 2013, p. 1343
⁹ Carey, Sandra A., et al. “The utility of home sleep apnea testing in the advanced heart failure populations.” The American Journal of Cardiology, vol. 191, Mar. 2023, pp. 8–13
¹⁰ Data on file as of December 2024

Copyright © 2026 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. ZOLL, LifeVest, TherOx, and WatchPAT are registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Asahi Kasei is a registered trademark of Asahi Kasei Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.