Deep Brain Stimulation Probes New Frontiers

Article preview from Medtech Insight - September 2013

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) currently comprises only about a quarter of the worldwide neuromodulation device market, but growth in this segment is strong. Both large and small competitors have targeted DBS, which has the potential to address a number of highly prevalent and underserved diseases and disorders.

Deep Brain Stimulation Probes New Frontiers

Article preview from Medtech Insight - September 2013

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices, on the market for 20 years, have enabled the successful treatment of more than 100,000 patients worldwide with debilitating and increasingly prevalent neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia, and epilepsy. But despite two decades of clinical and real-world experience, the full potential of the "brain pacemaker" market is just beginning to emerge, thanks to aggressive research and development efforts by the big players in this space. Over the past few months, new long-term data have been released that will help fuel growth in this market as two cardiac and neurotechnology device giants – St. Jude Medical Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp. – prepare to challenge worldwide neuromodulation leader Medtronic Inc. with competitive, next-generation DBS systems.

What's more, there are many exciting new companies and technologies entering the scene with the goal of expanding DBS to reach a large potential pool of new patients with diseases that currently have limited treatment options. Several young companies are seeking to address the limitations of current DBS systems with more power-efficient devices, highly targeted lead designs, and new, high-growth-potential targets such as Alzheimer's disease. A DBS technology platform has the potential to address numerous disease states with urgent unmet clinical needs and large and rapidly growing populations, and those characteristics appeal to all players and investors in this arena.

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