Boston Scientific, Brainlab form strategic collaboration

Apr 28 2015

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announces a collaboration with Brainlab AG, a leading software-driven medical technology company that helps improve patient treatment planning and surgical navigation. The collaboration provides patients and physicians a comprehensive portfolio for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy. DBS is intended to treat a variety of disorders, and most commonly may help reduce symptoms for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dystonia, and essential tremor. As part of the agreement, Boston Scientific will begin distributing the Brainlab DBS surgical planning portfolio with the Boston Scientific Vercise™ DBS System in select countries.

"Planning and visualization are important parts of the DBS process and enable more precise placement for better patient outcomes," said Maulik Nanavaty, president, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. "As we continue to invest in product development, clinical science, and solutions services in the DBS therapy space, we have found natural synergies with Brainlab. This collaboration offers physicians and their patients advanced device technology as well as sophisticated software capabilities."

DBS therapy involves the placement of a device that stimulates specific areas of the brain using electrical signals. The Vercise DBS System incorporates multiple independent current control, which stimulates targeted areas in the brain selectively and is designed to provide physicians with precise stimulation management.

"Our collaboration with Boston Scientific is a harmonious fit given the complementary nature of our innovative portfolios and shared passion for technology," said Stephan Holl, chief operating officer, Brainlab. "Our joint solutions will streamline and integrate DBS treatments for physicians and their patients and will also serve as a future platform to further increase the access to and consistency of care."

Brainlab was founded in Munich in 1989 and supports treatments in radiosurgery as well as numerous surgical fields including neurosurgery; orthopedic; ear, nose, and throat (ENT); craniomaxillofacial (CMF); spine, and trauma. The company has over 8,900 systems installed in about 100 countries.

The Vercise DBS System has CE Mark and is available in Europe, Israel, Australia and certain countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific for the treatment of PD, tremor and dystonia. In the U.S., the Vercise DBS System is investigational and not available for use or sale. The INTREPID clinical trial is currently enrolling patients in the U.S., evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Vercise DBS System for the treatment of PD.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation