US-based medical technology company SetPoint Medical has treated the first patient with its neuroimmune modulation therapy, the SetPoint system, at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
BIDMC functional neurosurgeon Dr Joshua Aronson conducted the surgical procedure.
SetPoint Medical developed the device as an implantable neurostimulator that delivers electrical pulses to the left vagus nerve.
By stimulating this nerve pathway, the mechanism triggers innate anti-inflammatory processes designed to regulate immune activity.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the SetPoint System as the sole neuroimmune modulation treatment for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The therapy is indicated for patients who have experienced an inadequate response, lost response, or showed intolerance to at least one biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).
BIDMC rheumatologist Brian Stout said: “Treating the first patient in Boston with the SetPoint system marks an exciting milestone for people living with rheumatoid arthritis and for our clinical community.
“Neuroimmune modulation offers a different mechanism of action for patients whose disease is not managed with initial biological agents.
“Being able to offer an alternative to immunosuppressives with a different mechanism expands the treatment options we have for managing RA.”
BIDMC joins health systems, neurosurgeons, and rheumatology practices across the US that are expanding patient access to SetPoint therapy.
SetPoint Medical president and CEO Murthy Simhambhatla said: “Boston’s academic medical centres are among the leading programmes in healthcare. We are grateful to work with forward-thinking clinicians in the region.”
The device is contraindicated in patients who have undergone a splenectomy or vagotomy, as well as those considered unsuitable by a healthcare professional.
Potential complications associated with the surgical intervention include bruising, coughing, hoarseness, post-operative infection, post-operative pain, swelling, and throat irritation.
SetPoint Medical plans to investigate the application of its neurostimulation platform for other conditions, including Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
