CAIRDAC, a France-based medical technology company developing a leadless, self-powered cardiac pacemaker, has appointed Raymond W. Cohen as Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Cohen brings more than 40 years of experience in the medical technology industry, including executive leadership and board positions at companies developing implantable medical devices.
He previously co-founded and served as CEO of Axonics, a developer of implantable neuromodulation devices.
Axonics completed its initial public offering in 2018 and was subsequently acquired by Boston Scientific for $3.7 billion in late 2024.
According to CAIRDAC, Axonics generated more than $1.2 billion in revenue during the four years following its commercial launch.
Cohen also chaired SoniVie, an Israeli clinical-stage medical technology company that was sold in 2025 for $600 million.
Later that year, he helped lead the $533 million sale of Nalu Medical.
His experience scaling medical technology companies and overseeing corporate transactions will support CAIRDAC as it advances its lead product toward clinical development.
The company is developing the Autonomous Leadless Pacing System (ALPS), an investigational pacemaker designed to generate electricity from the mechanical movement of the heart.
The technology uses a frequency-tuned piezoelectric energy harvester to convert the energy of each heartbeat into electricity, which is stored in an onboard rechargeable battery.
CAIRDAC is developing this architecture to reduce reliance on conventional battery-limited pacemaker systems.
The company believes the technology could eventually support additional capabilities, including multi-chamber pacing, continuous remote monitoring, diagnostic functions, and communication between implanted devices.
Its development program currently includes a leadless pacing platform designed to support dual-chamber pacing and potential future conduction system pacing.
CAIRDAC has reported preclinical results in a 2026 abstract published in Europace and is preparing for its first-in-human clinical study.
Its development strategy targets CE marking in Europe before a U.S. pivotal study, subject to the results of clinical testing and applicable regulatory requirements.
The company remains at the pre-revenue stage, and its pacemaker is investigational and not currently available for sale.
CAIRDAC’s existing investor group includes Mérieux Equity Partners, Supernova Invest, Bpifrance, Sham Innovation Santé, and Crédit Agricole Touraine et Poitou.
Cohen currently serves on several public and private healthcare company boards, including Kestra Medical Technologies.
He is also an operating partner at Star51 and a venture partner at Andera Partners and Sherpa Capital Partners.
His appointment strengthens CAIRDAC’s board as the company prepares for clinical development and evaluates its longer-term commercialization strategy.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Cohen to the CAIRDAC board of directors. Ray’s extensive track record in leading, scaling and exiting medical technology companies will, no doubt, be invaluable as we advance this exciting project.”
Edouard Fonck, CEO of CAIRDAC
“I see tremendous commercial potential for leadless pacemaker powered by the movement of the human heart.”
Raymond W. Cohen, Chairman of CAIRDAC
