What You Should Know:
– Stimvia, a Czech medtech company, has successfully completed a clinical study on its URIS® device for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
– The study, which was published in the medical journal Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, confirms the safety of the non-invasive treatment and indicates a positive impact on both symptom relief and patients’ quality of life.
Impact of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, affects over 10 million people worldwide. It is characterized by motor dysfunction, muscle stiffness, resting tremor, and issues with balance and walking. The URIS® device, which uses a proprietary method called peroneal electrical transcutaneous neuromodulation (peroneal eTNM®), has shown promising results in addressing these debilitating symptoms.
Visible Improvements and Strong Safety Profile
The study included 12 patients with Parkinson’s disease who were also taking Levodopa, a common medication for the condition. Participants used the URIS® device for daily 30-minute stimulation of the peroneal nerve behind the knee for a period of six weeks. This was followed by a six-week period without stimulation to observe if the positive effects would last.
According to Prof. MUDr. David Skoloudik, the study’s principal investigator, patients experienced visible improvements in motor symptoms like resting tremor and, more importantly, in their daily comfort and well-being. The improvements in quality of life exceeded the threshold of clinical relevance, and no severe side effects were reported. The greatest benefits were seen in daily functioning, with patients reporting less physical discomfort and an improved ability to perform routine activities.
A Non-Invasive Alternative to Deep Brain Stimulation
The goal of the study was to see if URIS® could be a meaningful complement to standard treatment. Lukas Doskocil, CEO of Stimvia, believes that the combination of Levodopa and non-invasive neuromodulation could help to slow the progression of the disease and extend patients’ quality years of life without the need for invasive procedures like deep brain stimulation. He also stated that URIS® may be a more suitable option in the early stages of Parkinson’s due to its non-invasive nature, ease of home use, and strong safety profile.
A particularly strong indicator of the therapy’s value is that 80% of the patients from the pilot study chose to continue using URIS® therapy after the initial phase. To support this, Stimvia has launched a two-year follow-up study for participants who perceive “real, tangible health benefits” from the treatment.
Upcoming International Clinical Trial
Stimvia is now preparing for a larger international clinical trial to confirm these promising results, with the study expected to launch this fall. Experts from several European countries are contributing to the study’s design, and research centers are currently being selected. The company’s core technology is protected by over 100 international patents and holds prestigious certifications from the German institution TÜV SÜD.
