The Orchestra BioMed BackBeat Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) system is implanted similar to a pacemaker to stimulate the sympathetic nerves to help reduce blood pressure.
August 3, 2021 — Long-term follow-up data on hypertensive patients from the control group of the MODERATO II study who received crossover treatment with Orchestra BioMed BackBeat Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in blood pressure. This was consistent with the decrease previously observed in the study’s treatment group during the same period.
The research was presented at the 2021 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) meeting.
“I continue to be impressed and encouraged by the observed reduction in blood pressure in patients treated with BackBeat CNT. Reductions in ambulatory and office systolic blood pressure were clinically significant and persistent in control patients who went on to receive crossover therapy,” stated Professor Zbigniew F. Kalarus, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the department of cardiology at Silesian Center for Heart Diseases (SCHD), Zabrze, Poland. “Of additional importance is that the rate of adverse cardiac events in these patients was lower during the crossover period as compared to the control period, when patients were not receiving treatment with BackBeat CNT.”
MODERATO II is a European, prospective, multi-center, double-blind, randomized study of BackBeat CNT (n=26) vs. control (n=21) in patients with persistent hypertension (ASBP ≥130 mmHg and oSBP ≥ 140 mmHg) despite one or more anti-hypertensive medications and a pacemaker indication. Of the 21 control patients (treated with antihypertensive medications only, BackBeat not activated), 14 were eligible for crossover to BackBeat CNT, and 13 completed 12 months of follow-up to-date (one patient died of cancer). Key interim study data:
Immediately upon activation of BackBeat CNT, aSBP dropped by 16.7±12.9 mmHg (p<0.01) and remained low after 6 months (-10.3±9.3 mmHg, p<0.01); consistent with the decrease observed in the treatment group during the same time period.
After crossover to BackBeat treatment, oSBP decreased by 13.1±26.6 and 20.9±15.1 mmHg at 6 and 12 months, respectively (p=0.05).
A lower rate of adverse cardiac events was observed in the control patients during the crossover period as compared to the study control period when patients were not receiving BackBeat CNT.
BackBeat CNT, a flagship therapy of Orchestra BioMed, is a bioelectronic treatment designed to immediately, substantially, and persistently lower blood pressure (BP) while simultaneously modulating the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Orchestra BioMed’s CE mark-approved Moderato implantable pulse generator system delivers BackBeat CNT while also providing standard pacemaker functions. BackBeat CNT is designed to mimic the effects of multi-drug hypertension therapy by targeting preload, afterload and sympathetic tone. The initial target treatment population for BackBeat CNT is patients with uncontrolled hypertension who are also indicated for a pacemaker.
For more information: www.orchestrabiomed.com
MODERATO II Study: Cardiac Neuromodulation Significantly Reduces Systolic Blood Pressure
November 12, 2025 
