electroCore, Inc., a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, tells us that its gammaCore non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator (nVNS), has been selected for the Innovation and Technology Payment (ITP) Program by NHS England for use in the treatment of cluster headache in adults. Through this program, gammaCore will become a funded option for the 55,000 patients in England who suffer from cluster headache and their providers.
Background
gammaCore™ (nVNS) is the first non-invasive, hand-held medical therapy applied at the neck as a therapy to treat migraine and cluster headache through the utilization of a mild electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve through the skin. Designed as a portable, easy-to-use technology, gammaCore can be self-administered by patients, as needed, without the potential side effects associated with commonly prescribed drugs. When placed on a patient’s neck over the vagus nerve, gammaCore stimulates the nerve’s afferent fibers, which may lead to a reduction of pain in patients. gammaCore is CE-marked in the European Union for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of primary headache (Migraine, Cluster Headache, and Hemicrania Continua) and Medication Overuse Headache in adults. gammaCore is also released/cleared, licensed, registered and/or approved in many countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The ITP Program is designed to support the adoption of innovations and technologies in the NHS market through the removal of significant financial barriers for both commissioners and providers. Through a highly competitive process successful candidates will see funding for their MedTech products and enjoy a broad set of activities with Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) in order to deliver improvements in the quality and efficacy of patient care.
gammaCore will be centrally funded by the NHS and the ITP will work to increase the momentum of adoption throughout England. The ITP Program will go into effect for a one-year period beginning in Q2 of this year.
Company comments
“Being chosen by NHS England for this program opens up a reimbursement pathway that will help patients who might benefit from the use of gammaCore,” said Francis Amato, chief executive officer of electroCore. “We look forward to working with NHS England to provide significant cost savings and improve patient care while expanding the availability of gammaCore for the patients in England suffering from the debilitating effects of cluster headache.”
Iain Strickland, managing director at electroCore UK, Ltd., commented, “Along with NHS England, we expect that through the ITP Program both symptom management and quality of life in cluster headache patients who are ‘treatment-refractory’ will improve. Additionally, we hope to see healthcare cost-savings from fewer cluster headache related admissions and reduced medication usage.”
Source: Globe Newswire
published: May 10, 2019 in: Company News, Pain management, Products, Technology