Onward Medical is focused on advancing neurostimulation technologies to significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with paralysis, as highlighted by CEO Dave Marver during his discussion at the 2024 STAT Summit in Boston. The company, a Swiss-Dutch medical device innovator, is channeling its efforts towards pioneering devices, including a promising solution to manage underactive bladder conditions.
Having witnessed encouraging outcomes from preliminary clinical studies, Onward Medical is committed to advancing its research by conducting larger studies. This will further validate the efficacy and safety of their devices, propelling them towards commercialization. During his presentation, Marver outlined the company’s resolve to push its entire pipeline of innovations forward, emphasizing the potential impact these could have on improving patient outcomes.
Highlighting the real-world benefits of Onward’s technology, Sherown Campbell, a patient advocate who participated in one of Onward’s trials, shared his experience with the audience. Campbell’s life was transformed after a wrestling accident in 2014, which left him with a broken neck and severe mobility limitations. By incorporating Onward’s non-invasive spinal cord stimulator into his rehabilitation, Campbell witnessed significant improvements in hand and arm functionality. This device, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, has shown to enhance function in 72% of trial participants.
Campbell noted that prior to using Onward’s neurostimulation device, simple daily routines became daunting tasks, consuming much more time and effort due to his paralysis. However, the intervention of the stimulator brought substantial changes, enhancing his sensory capabilities and overall mobility. This improvement played a crucial role in accelerating Campbell’s recovery, adding a positive note to his challenging journey.
Onward Medical has further expanded its product portfolio, developing several other devices aimed at addressing various challenges faced by those with paralysis. These include mobility aids, as well as devices meant for regulating blood pressure and body temperature. One of their most forward-looking projects involves a brain-computer interface designed to aid mobility in paralyzed individuals. Positioned distinctively from competitors like Neuralink and Synchron, Onward’s device focuses more on restoring movement than on computer operation, which may provide them a unique stake in the market.
The company’s innovative strides have not gone unnoticed by regulatory bodies. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently awarded Onward’s brain-computer interface system a “breakthrough device” designation, marking the fifth consecutive year that an Onward product has received this notable classification. This designation is pivotal in accelerating the development and review process for medical devices that offer more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases.
Looking ahead, Onward Medical is optimistic about its impact, aiming to replicate and expand upon success stories like Campbell’s. The company envisions a future where their devices not only cater to the immediate medical needs of individuals with paralysis but also contribute to broader aspects of their lives, enabling them to tackle ambitious personal goals and enjoy family life more fully. Campbell himself shared aspirations of undertaking significant hiking challenges while also acknowledging the complexities of aging with a spinal cord injury.
This narrative of innovation and personal triumph was shared at the STAT Summit against a backdrop of ongoing support from notable foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Commonwealth Fund, which fund STAT’s coverage of disability issues. As Onward Medical continues to push the boundaries of medical technology, their work remains a beacon of hope for many, potentially reshaping the landscape of treatment and rehabilitation for paralysis across the globe.
#Onward #Medical #bets #neurostimulation #people #paralysis
