Spinal Modulation's Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Pilot Clinical Trial results to be presented at 14th NANS

Nov 30 2010

SPINAL MODULATION, Inc., a privately held medical device company focused on developing devices to treat chronic pain, today announced that the results of its prospective, multicenter Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation Clinical Trial will be presented by David Caraway, MD, PhD, Timothy Deer, MD and Robert Levy, MD, PhD at the 14^th Annual North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) meeting.

“Spinal Modulation has leveraged the skills and knowledge of experienced spinal cord stimulator implanters to develop a unique and proprietary tool system that makes neuromodulation of the DRG clinically practical.”

Over 10% of Americans suffer from moderate to severe chronic neuropathic pain. Many of these patients have failed all available therapies and have exhausted their options for managing their pain. Spinal Modulation is developing a next generation neuromodulation system targeting the DRG, an intraspinal neural structure that plays a key role in processing and transmitting sensory signals. Recently, the important role of the DRG in the maintenance and treatment of chronic pain has been addressed in several scientific publications and lectures.

"In order to advance our ability to effectively treat a wider group of patients with chronic neuropathic pain, we need novel devices which allow for the neuromodulation of optimal neural targets. If the long term outcomes for DRG stimulation follow the results demonstrated with this initial pilot study, it will become a very important treatment modality in every pain management practice," said Dr. Timothy Deer, one of the investigators in the study.

Earlier this year, at the 17^th annual Napa Pain Conference Eric Grigsby, MD and Robert Levy, MD, PhD presented on the Dorsal Root Ganglion as a Novel Target for Neuromodulation. Dr. Grigsby commented, "Spinal Modulation has leveraged the skills and knowledge of experienced spinal cord stimulator implanters to develop a unique and proprietary tool system that makes neuromodulation of the DRG clinically practical." Dr. Levy remarked at the same conference, "Neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic pain has existed since the mid 1960s; yet, the Dorsal Root Ganglion as a target for modulating pain has been largely ignored. Techniques such as radiofrequency ablation have had mixed results; yet, mounting evidence points to the DRG as key structure in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. With the right tools, neuromodulation of this critical structure may help physicians better manage the chronic pain disease process."

Dr. David Caraway will introduce and chair the session. Dr. Robert Levy will discuss the potential of the DRG as a target for neuromodulation and Dr. Timothy Deer will close the session by presenting the results of the Spinal Modulation Dorsal Root Ganglion Pilot Trial. The presentation will take place at the 14^th annual NANS Meeting at 11:00 am on December 5^th as part of the main scientific agenda.