Non-invasive spinal cord electrical stimulation for arm and hand function in chronic tetraplegia: a safety and efficacy trial
Trial Shows Treatment Restores Motor Functions in Tetraplegia
New study led by EPFL Spin-off ONWARD demonstrates the efficacy and safety of their neuroprosthesis to improve arm and hand functions in people with tetraplegia.
The neurotechnology company ONWARD has spearheaded the development of a rehabilitation therapy that improves the recovery of arm and hand functions in patients with chronic tetraplegia. The impressive results of this clinical study, published in Nature Medicine, are the fruit of over a decade of collaboration between EPFL, CHUV and UNIL researchers at Professors Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch’s .NeuroRestore Center.
"The development of this spinal cord neuromodulation therapy marks a significant milestone in spinal cord injury medicine. This is the first treatment that shows safety and efficacy to improve the neurological recovery in people with tetraplegia. The next step is to obtain approval from regulatory authorities such as FDA and EU to commercialize this treatment and make a real difference in patients' lives," says Professor Grégoire Courtine.
The pivotal trial, conducted by ONWARD, the EPFL spin-off tasked with commercializing the technology, has demonstrated in a cohort of 60 participants from the United States and Europe that 72% of the patients met the pre-established criteria for clinically meaningful improvement in arm and hand functions in patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injury.
One patient who participated in the trail, Ivar, remarked on how the treatment gave him a greater sense of independence, “Just being able to hold the pen or use scissors, to do some kind of fine motor activities with my right hand has encouraged me to do more bilateral activities. Instead of asking for friends and family to help open the package, I'm trying to do it on my own.”
The study is the first of its kind in the history of spinal cord injury medicine that meets the safety and efficacy endpoints to improve neurological function in patients suffering from chronic tetraplegia, representing a notable achievement in translational neuroscience. Efforts are now focused on securing regulatory approvals to broaden the availability of this promising therapy.
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Lausanne University Hospital medias@chuv.ch
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