NeuroSigma has received a notice of award (NOA) for an NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to develop external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) therapy.
The grant will support the development of eTNS therapy for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy developed by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
NeuroSigma’s eTNS system uses a self-adhesive conductive pad which stimulate branches of the trigeminal nerve located very close to the surface of the skin of the forehead.
NeuroSigma’s grant award from NINDS provides total funding of $750,000, with the second year of funding subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress during the first year.
It will also provide an additional $3m of follow-on Phase II funding for additional clinical studies.
UCLA faculty Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry principal investigator Christopher DeGiorgio said the safety and efficacy of the non-invasive eTNS therapy has been proven in prior clinical trials and further validation of the therapy is possible through the funding provided by NINDS.