Neuralieve Announces New Data On The Use Of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) For The Treatment Of Migraine Aura

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 04 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Neuralieve, a medical technology company pioneering a new approach to treat migraine headache, reported positive data on the mechanism of action of TMS technology for the treatment of migraine aura. The results will be presented during the annual American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Scientific Meeting in Seattle by Peter J. Goadsby, MD, PhD, Professor and Director of the Headache Program at the University of California, San Francisco. The study abstract has been selected as a featured scientific highlight of the meeting.

The results demonstrated the effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on cortical spreading depression (CSD) in rats. "These data demonstrate a biological rationale for the use of TMS to treat migraine aura," said Dr. Goadsby, lead investigator of the study. "CSD, the animal correlate of migraine aura was susceptible to TMS, with the wave of neuronal excitation blocked on over 50% of occasions."

In a previously conducted randomized controlled clinical study for migraine with aura, treatment with Neuralieve's non-drug, non-invasive TMS device was found to be superior to the placebo control, and led to patients being pain-free at 2 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours.

"We are very pleased with the growing body of scientific evidence that our proprietary TMS device has the potential to help those who suffer from migraine," said Ting W. Lu, president of Neuralieve. "We believe the results from this study provide an important contribution to understanding migraine and underscores the role our technology can play in providing safe and effective treatment options."

TMS works by creating a focused magnetic pulse that passes non-invasively through the skull, inducing an electric current to disrupt the abnormal brain waves believed to be associated with migraine, including cortical spreading depression (CSD); a condition that precedes migraine with aura. Neuralieve's TMS technology has the potential to reduce the duration or severity of migraine episode and preempt headache altogether.

Migraine is a syndrome characterized by recurrent, often excruciatingly-painful headaches. It is estimated that over 30 million Americans suffer from migraine; more than half report severe impairment or require bed rest during their episodes. In addition, the National Headache Foundation estimates that migraine causes 157 million lost workdays each year due to pain and associated migraine symptoms, resulting in a $13 billion burden to American employers.

Neuralieve is a private company located in Sunnyvale, California. Please visit the company's website at http://www.Neuralieve.com.

Source
Neuralieve