Neuronix to present TMS treatment trial data for Alzheimer's disease at Geneva Congress

Sep 28 2010

The results of a successful clinical trial using Neuronix Ltd., a developer of a patent-pending, non-invasive system for Alzheimer's Disease and related conditions, will be presented for the first time today at the annual Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Geneva, Switzerland.

“In addition to the significant efficacy we found, this treatment is entirely safe and painless”

The principal investigator, Professor Martin Rabey, Chairman of the Neurology Department at Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Israel, will discuss the data gleaned from the first round of clinical trials, which could lead to a breakthrough treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The clinical trial took place in Assaf Harofe Medical Center. Daily treatment sessions were administered for six weeks, followed by three months of maintenance treatment and six months of follow-up.

The treatment used in the pilot study involved non-invasive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ("TMS") applied to specific diseased regions of the brain, concurrently interlaced with software-based customized Cognitive Training. Although TMS treatments have been attempted for Alzheimer's patients in the past, this is the first time the technology has been successfully combined with mental exercises to implement and augment their effects, creating effective, lasting improvement, according to Professor Rabey.

"In addition to the significant efficacy we found, this treatment is entirely safe and painless," said Professor Rabey. "We saw a four-point improvement on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog), which is at least as good as the average improvement from current FDA-approved medications. Furthermore, the natural decline of these patients was limited for nine months following the initiation of treatment. We are encouraged by these early findings, which show that patients regained a significant part of their lost mental abilities, and we are now moving ahead with an ongoing, larger controlled study."

"We are highly encouraged by these results," said Eyal Baror, CEO of Neuronix Ltd. "The next round of multi-national clinical trials has already begun, and we are looking forward to seeing the results during the first half of 2011. We continue to take meaningful steps toward achieving our goal of providing a new, effective, non-invasive and safe treatment for Alzheimer patients as soon as possible."

The next trial, a double-blind controlled study of approximately 50 subjects, is underway in Germany and Israel, and is expected to take place also in the United States as a follow-up to the preliminary results and to further examine the long-term effects of the treatment.

The European Federation of Neurological Societies, where Professor Rabey is orally presenting the results of the trial, currently represents the national neurological organizations of 44 European countries. More than 4,500 neurologists will be attending this year's congress.