St Jude Medical’s neurostimulation migraine therapy receives EU backing

St Jude Medical has been granted European regulatory approval for a new neurostimulation-based treatment for chronic migraine.

The company has been granted CE Mark approval for the Genesis neurostimulation system, which utilises peripheral stimulation of the occipital nerves to counter the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine.

Approval was granted on the basis of results from a clinical study, which revealed that the technique is able to significantly reduce the number of days per month on which patients suffer headaches.

It is the first and only implanted neurostimulation device to be granted regulatory approval for this specification.

Chris Chavez, president of the St Jude Medical neuromodulation division, said: "We will continue to work with regulatory authorities to secure approvals in order to offer this therapy option to patients throughout the world."

This comes after the company began a new clinical study of an innovative new technique for treating atrial fibrillation last month.