[March 13, 2014] |
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Clinical study in international headache journal finds electroCore's non invasive vagus nerve stimulation effective in treating migraine
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. --(Business Wire)--
A study reported (13TH March 2014) in the International
Headache Society's official journal Cephalalgia found that the use of
electroCore's non invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy (nVNS) may be
an effective and well tolerated treatment for migraine in certain
patients.
The open label study, which was led by Professor Goadsby, was carried
out by the University of California, San Francisco and at four other
sites in the US involving 30 patients.
Of the 30 enrolled patients 27 used the nVNS therapy to treat a total of
80 migraine attacks. Patients with moderate or severe headache attacks
reported pain freedom or relief in, twenty-three out of fifty-four
attacks (43 %). This included twelve out of fifty-four attacks where the
patients reported being pain free at two hours after treatment (22 %).
Additionally, in ten of twenty-six attacks when the patient treated
while the pain was mild the patients reported being pain free at two
hours (38 %). No unaticipated, serious or severe adverse events were
reported and the paper stated that nVNS seems much better tolerated than
the more potent triptans and does not have comparable cardiovascular or
cerebrovascular concerns.
The study also found that certain patients responded positively on a
consistent basis. Of eighteen patients who treated at least three
attacks six were pain free on 2/3 occasions (33 %).
JP Errico CEO and founder of electroCore commented. "We are delighted to
see that this easy to use treatment was found to be effective in a
substantial number of patients for this debilitating and painful
condition. The authors of this report noted the need for further placebo
controlled trials and we are presently carrying out four double blind
randomized controlled studies in the US and Europe which will read out
in the second half of this year"
ElectroCore's proprietary, non invasive electrical stimulation therapy
works by activating specific fibers in the vagus nerve bundle. This
activation causes the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters within the
central nervous system, and reduces the over expression of the
excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which has been implicated in a
number of different disorders.
Patients self treat by holding the device on their neck over the vagus
nerve for two minutes. All patients are trained in the use of the device
to ensure they place it correctly and they use the appropriate setting.
The great benefit of this therapy is that it is very safe. Surgically
implanted VNS has been in use for more than 20 years in over a 100,000
patients without any side effects. It can also be used in conjunction
with other medications as the chemicals it produces are endogenous and
contained within the central nervous system.
Authors; J. Goadsby, B. M. Grosberg, A. Mauskop, R. Cady and
K.A. Simmons
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