Galvani Bioelectronics, a clinical-stage bioelectronics R&D company, recently announced the first successful treatment of a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patient by stimulation of the splenic nerve done via its novel bioelectronic platform.

The investigational treatment underpins first ever innovation in the field of ‘bioelectronics medicines’, that is based on stimulation of specific nerves surrounding the target visceral organs central in disease.

The therapy was initiated last month under a small clinical study conducted at the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board in Scotland, making it Galvani’s first move in assess the investigational treatment in the clinic for a chronic ailment.

Dr. René van der Merwe, Galvani Bioelectronics’ Chief Medical Officer, stated that RA patients are struggling with substantial unmet medical needs as well as with the inefficient control offered by existing therapies.

Dr. René is optimistic of their entry into the first investigational treatment in clinic which Galvani hopes will provide a new and adequate treatment option to RA patients, offering long-lasting relief with relatively minimal side effects as compared to the current RA therapies.

Major objective of feasibility study authorized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of UK, is to determine the platform’s safety in patients with moderate-to-severe RA.

These include patients who are considered to be incomplete responders with hypersensitivity to more than one biologic or towards anti-rheumatic drugs having targeted synthetic disease modifying properties.

According to Dr. Duncan Porter, lead investigator supervising the study and Consultant Rheumatologist at the NHS center, splenic nerve simulation is a novel approach that may potentially help in treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Notably, splenic nerve stimulation results in nerve signals that are sent to spleen, which transform splenic immune cells from a pro-inflammation state to an inflammation-resolving condition.

After reprogramming, these immune cells travel to the sites of disease infestation, which is joint in case of RA, and further reduce the inflammation and pain at the site.

Following five years of consistent research and development, Galvani Bioelectronics’ platform now offers the first fully laparoscopically implanted neurostimulator in the world.

Source Credit: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005879/en/Galvani-Bioelectronics-Announces-World%E2%80%99s-First-Investigational-Treatment-of-Rheumatoid-Arthritis-Using-Splenic-Nerve-Stimulation