News by CEO «T.HSM» Mr. Phillippe Deschamps reports
HELIUS MEDICAL ANNOUNCES RESULTS FROM A CASE SERIES OF SUBJECTS WITH ADVANCED MS
Helius Medical Technologies Inc. has provided the results of a case series of individuals with advanced symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with PoNS therapy.
This study was performed at TCNL(1), University of Wisconsin, Madison and the data was presented at the 2016, Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).
Six subjects with advanced MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)(2) scores ranging from 6.5 to 7.5) were enrolled in a six-month pilot study. Subjects were trained in PoNS? Therapy which combines use of the prototype PoNS? device with physical training in balance, gait, movement and postural stability. Results demonstrated improvements in physical, cognitive and quality of life parameters. The demanding training regimen also resulted in significant real life improvements such as re-adopting a walker for community mobility, decreased fatigue, increased independence with daily activities, overcoming physical obstacles at home and increased community access.
"Those with greater functional ability at the beginning of the study (EDSS 6.5-7.0) made the most significant gains but all subjects could be qualified as improved. The intervention shows promise to prolong functional ambulation and independence with daily activity," said Principal Investigator Mitch Tyler.
In a separate MS Pilot study, sponsored by Helius (see press release November 2, 2015), the average EDSS score of the subjects was 4.5, while the average in this subject pool was 7.0. In applauding the efforts of the TCNL investigators, Helius CEO Phillippe Deschamps noted, "The patients in this study represent a much more challenging cohort and received PoNS? Therapy for a longer period (6-months vs. 14-weeks), yet compliance remained high. The outcome is very encouraging."
1) The TCNL is the Tactile Communications and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The PoNS? was developed at TCNL and licensed to a Helius subsidiary.
2) EDSS is a measure of MS disease severity where 0=normal and 10=death.
About PoNS? Therapy
The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS?) is an investigational non-invasive device designed to deliver neurostimulation through the tongue. PoNS? Therapy combines the use of the device with physical therapy and is currently being evaluated in a multicenter clinical trial for the treatment of balance disorder for subjects with mild to moderate Traumatic Brain Injury.