Neuroelectrics’ mission is to explore and develop non-invasive treatments that can be used to treat or mitigate brain dysfunction. Neuroelectrics manufactures electrotherapeutic devices that use neuromodulation for the treatment of a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders that are difficult to manage with conventional pharmacological approaches.
Neuroelectrics leverages advancements in neuroscience and data science to understand and treat the brain through personalized therapeutic methods designed for each patient. The unique platform provides treatment by combining safe and proven neuromodulation capabilities with remote-controlled delivery and personalized treatment protocols in order to restore and maintain brain health.
In May 2021, Neurolectrics raised $17.5 million in its Series A funding round, led by Morningside Ventures. The proceeds from the funding round will be used to continue development of the company’s non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation therapeutic platform, Starstim, and advance clinical trials in refractory focal epilepsy and at-home treatment of refractory depression.
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that uses scalp electrodes to deliver relatively weak electric currents to the brain to reduce or increase rates of spontaneous neuronal firing. The device is intended to provide convenient at-home treatment for those grappling with undertreated neurological disorders.
Neuroelectrics’ Starstim platform has been used in hundreds of clinical studies by leading neuroscience research institutions across the world. The therapeutic device integrates three components to deliver treatment: a multi-channel head-piece for brain monitoring and targeted neuromodulation; personalized treatment protocols based on extensive neuroscience research, data science, and the patient’s own physiological and anatomical data; and a cloud-based system for safe and controlled delivery of treatment protocols at home.
The Starstim platform is the result of more than a decade of refining algorithms to create comprehensive, personalized brain models and treatment plans.
The treatment is designed to aid the approximately one-third of epilepsy patients who fail to achieve adequate seizure control with antiepileptic medications alone.
In an effort to combat this unmet medical need, Neuroelectrics conducted a pilot study (NCT02866240) to assess the effectiveness of its Starstim tES system in treating a mix of adult and pediatric patients with medically-refractory focal epilepsy. The study, which enrolled 20 patients, recorded a 44% median reduction in seizure frequency in the eight-week post-treatment follow-up period relative to baseline, with four patients experiencing a more than 75% of seizure frequency.
In addition to treating seizures, Neuroelectrics believes its platform has the potential to treat patients with refractory Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at home. Approximately 17.3 million adults in the U.S. have had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, according to the National Institute of Health.
In February 2021, Neuroelectrics initiated an at-home pilot study (NCT04799405) to evaluate the potential utility of its Starstim system in treating adult patients with refractory MDD.
This study was motivated in part by the company’s concern for refractory MDD patients whose access to various in-clinic neuromodulation therapies was disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are developing a platform that builds upon the brain's natural electrical properties to both understand and treat neurological dysfunction,” Neuroelectrics co-founder and CEO Ana Maiques said. “Our goal is to offer a safe, non-invasive treatment that will benefit patients with no effective treatments available to them.”
Neuroelectrics at a Glance
- Private Company
- Founded in 2013
- Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Barcelona, Spain
- Goodwin Life Sciences client since 2017