St Jude Medical reports positive data from peripheral nerve stimulation trial

St Jude Medical has published data from a new clinical trial that demonstrates the benefits of an innovative treatment method for peripheral nerve stimulation.

The trial was the first large-scale study of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerves in patients suffering from chronic migraine, with results suggesting that it can deliver reductions in pain, headache days and migraine-related disability.

At 12 weeks, the average patient reported an average of six fewer headache days a month, as well as 43 per cent increases in overall disability scores and a 42 per cent rise in pain relief.

Dr Mark Carlson, chief medical officer and senior vice-president of research and clinical affairs for St Jude Medical's implantable electronic systems division, said: "During the course of the study, many neurologists began to recognise reduction in the number of headache days as a more significant improvement in patient quality of life than … pain reduction alone."

This comes after the company received European CE Mark approval for its new Eon family of neurostimulators for the treatment of migraines last week.