News

The Dangers of Pain Pain is a serious subject to the millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide who are incapacitated . It is also a big business and the choice of treatment is one that has enormous consequences not just for sufferers and their clinicians, but for entire industry segments dedicated to treating pain. For researchers and vendors in the neuromodulation industry, advancing our unders…

Industry Pioneers and Newcomers Meet at 2012 Neurotech Leaders Forum Staff report About 80 executives and entrepreneurs from the neurotechnology industry met in San Francisco earlier this month for the 2012 Neurotech Leaders Forum, organized . Platinum sponsor for the two-day event was Cirtec Medical Systems, while Stellar Technologies participated as silver sponsor. Other sponsors included Micro Systems Technologies, Neurotech Network, and the International Neuromodulation Society.

Neurotech Reports Announces Recipients of Gold Electrode Awards Neurotech Reports, the publisher of this newsletter, announced the recipients of the 2012 Gold Electrode Awards. The awards, in five categories, were presented October 22, 2012 at the Neurotech Leaders Forum in San Francisco, CA. The award for Best New Product was presented to ImThera Medical Inc. for its aura6000 hypoglossal nerve stimulation system.

Regulatory Efficacy One of the more hotly discussed topics at the recent Neurotech Leaders Forum was the impact of FDA approval cycles on commercialization of neurotechnology devices and investment in neurotech startups. During a panel session devoted to the investment outlook for neurotechnology, venture capital professionals reiterated that it was very difficult for them to invest in devices that require a premarket approval path through the FDA.

Trials and Tribulations One of the biggest challenges confronting researchers and start-up firms seeking to develop new neurotech therapies is designing, funding, and completing successful clinical trials. Even when adequate funding is available from grants, investors, or corporate partners, clinical trials often present obstacles such as recruiting the appropriate participants and centers, defining the right endpoints and control arms, and submitting trial data for regulatory approval.

Entrepreneurs and Industry Execs to Present at 2012 Leaders Forum Founders and CEOs of several startup and emerging neurotechnology firms are scheduled to give presentations at the 2012 Neurotech Leaders Forum, which will take place October 22-23 at the Radisson Hotel San Francisco Airport in Brisbane, CA. Among the entrepreneurs making presentations at the event are Jon Snyder, CEO of Neuros Medical in Cleveland, OH, Lee Gerdes, founder and CEO of Brain State Technologies, Inc.

Recovering from Setbacks Bad news beset two major players in the neurotechnology industry this month. Market leader Medtronic Neuromodulation received a warning letter from the FDA related to the company’s process of handling complaints. The company acted quickly to assure the market it would work with the FDA to resolve the matter. Perhaps more ominous was Cochlear Ltd.’s announcement of its financial results, which showed a decline in revenues for fiscal year 2012.

Neurotech Sleep Apnea Market Moves Toward Maturity The neurotechnology market for devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea moved closer to maturity in recent weeks as two vendors made major announcements. As competition heats up in this new space, a whole new class of patients and therapists will be exposed to the benefits of neurostimulation interventions. Earlier this month, ImThera Medical Inc.

Neural Engineers Come to Salt Lake City for 2012 Neural Interfaces Conference June 2012 About 500 neural engineers, researchers, clinicians, and vendors attended the 2012 Neural Interfaces Conference in Salt Lake City earlier this month. The biannual meeting is an offshoot of the NIH Neural Interfaces Workshop and it still receives funding from NIH as well as DARPA and the National Science Foundation.

The Retinal Implant Market Emerges The market for retinal prostheses, once thought to be a far-off possibility, is now a reality. Industry pioneer Second Sight Medical Products, a spinoff from the Alfred Mann Foundation, has achieved its first $1 million in product revenue in Europe and may well be on the market in the U.S. in a matter of months if its HDE application is approved [see vendor profile, p6].