In Brief October 2006

Short summaries of notable clinical and product news items in the device industry.

Pervasis Therapeutics Inc. (Cambridge, MA) has begun enrolling patients in two Phase I clinical trials of the company’s first product, Vascugel, an allogeneic cell therapy product that restores natural repair and regeneration pathways in the vasculature. When wrapped around an injured blood vessel, Vascugel endothelial cells provide growth regulatory compounds to the underlying blood vessel, promoting a natural healing process and preventing excessive scar tissue formation, inflammation and thrombosis, according to the company. The trials will evaluate the safety and feasibility of Vascugel for the maintenance of vascular patency after creation of arteriovenous (AV) access graft and AV fistula, respectively, for patients undergoing dialysis for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Preclinical studies suggest Vascugel has the potential to allow traumatized vasculature to return to homeostasis by simultaneously reducing intimal hyperplasia, inflammation and thrombosis, according to the company. Over 300,000 patients undergo hemodialysis in the U.S. each year, with an estimated annual growth rate of nearly 5% for new AV graft and AV fistula procedures performed each year.

Northstar Neuroscience Inc. (Seattle, WA), developer of medical devices for the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders, has received FDA approval to conduct a clinical feasibility study of its implantable cortical stimulation therapy system for the treatment of depression (the first study of its kind). The study will assess the safety and effectiveness of investigational cortical stimulation in up to 12 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder who are not responsive to other antidepressant treatments. (For more on the latest advances in neurostimulation, see Medtech Insight, August 2006, p. 231. [A#]) Cortical stimulation therapy refers to the precise delivery of low levels of electricity to the cortex via an implanted stimulator system

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