Boston Scientific begins enrolment for nerve stimulation trial

Boston Scientific has commenced a new clinical study to assess the benefits of chronic vagal nerve stimulation as a means of treating heart failure patients.

The medical technology firm has enrolled the first patients for a European trial called Nectar-HF, which will ultimately involve 96 test subjects and provide them with vagal nerve stimulator implants.

Currently, this therapy option is used to treat epilepsy and depression, but it is thought that it could also offer benefits such as improved heart function, better exercise capacity and delaying the progression of heart failure.

The Nectar-HF study will assess the treatment's preliminary safety and efficacy for this application, with the aim of providing a new therapy option for heart failure patients.

Dr Kenneth Stein, chief medical officer for cardiac rhythm management at Boston Scientific, said: "This treatment capability is one of our priority growth initiatives and illustrates our strategy to offer new therapies in high-potential markets that are designed to improve the quality of life for patients."

Last week, the company published data from a new study called Risa, which demonstrated the benefits of the Alair bronchial thermoplasty system in treating severe asthma.