For the first time a technology that has been shown to improve hand strength and sensitivity has been approved for use.
ONWARD Medical has just received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its groundbreaking, external ARC-EX spinal cord stimulation system – named as a 2024 TIME Magazine Best Invention.
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Tara Stewart, Chair of Spinal Research “This is momentous turning point. Today, we have the first approved technology that’s been shown to improve hand strength and sensation in paralysed people. This historic moment is something Spinal Research has been working towards for 40 years."
This historic moment for people with spinal cord injury comes after the publication of results from ONWARD’s global pivotal trial in Nature Medicine. The study results showed that 90% of study participants improved strength or function, 87% reported improvement in quality of life and benefits were observed in patients up to 34 years post injury.
We have a close relationship with ONWARD, having been an early investor and funder of a UK-based trial which demonstrates that this breakthrough neuromodulation technology can work on other areas of spinal cord injury. Look out in the New Year for more information on this exciting trial.
Tara Stewart, Chair of Spinal Research “This is momentous turning point. Today, we have the first approved technology that’s been shown to improve hand strength and sensation in paralysed people.
This historic moment is something Spinal Research has been working towards for 40 years. We were one of the early investors in Onward and funded a key UK trial which highlighted the potential of this breakthrough technology.
These stimulators work on spared spinal tissue so results will vary from person to person but it’s a huge first step in the function restoration journey. This technology proves that a spinal cord injury is improvable – not incurable.We look forward to further regulatory clearance for the ARC-EX outside the US and will continue to fund and support technologies and treatments which take us closer to our goal of curing paralysis.”
This really feels like a game-changing moment. The challenge is now getting the funding to speed the discovery, development and delivery of further innovative treatments, technologies and therapies from the lab to the people who need them.
But what a way to end 2024!
