Tag: Aleva Neurotherapeutics

Company News: Aleva Neurotherapeutics Appoints Dr. Philippe Dro to its Board of Directors

– Seasoned entrepreneur brings 20 years of Life Science industry experience –

Aleva Neurotherapeutics, a leading company developing next-generation implants for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in major neurological indications such as Parkinson´s disease, today announced the appointment of Dr. Philippe Dro to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Dro brings 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in the life science industry, including a pivotal role in executing strategic transactions at several biotech and medtech companies. Until recently, he was Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the Supervisory Board of GlycoVaxyn AG, a vaccine company that was acquired by GSK earlier this year. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Endoart S.A., a medtech company developing telemetry-driven implants for cardiac disease and obesity that was sold to Allergan, Inc. From 1999 to 2003, he was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development at drug discovery company Axovan AG, which was acquired by Actelion in November 2003. Prior to that, he held various position at Novartis, Skyepharma, and Antares Pharma.

Dr. Dro received a doctorate in Pharmacy (Pharm D) from the School of Pharmacy of the University of Grenoble, France, and holds a joint MBA from Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Lyon, France, and Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom.

Company News: BRAIN Publication Demonstrates Significantly Improved Therapeutic Window of Deep Brain Stimulation Using directSTIM™ Directional Electrode

– Study confirms proof-of-concept for innovative DBS lead developed by Aleva Neurotherapeutics

Aleva Neurotherapeutics, a company developing next-generation implants for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in major neurological indications such as Parkinson´s disease, today announced the publication of the results of an intraoperative study with its novel directSTIM™ directional lead. Data were published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain – A Journal of Neurology.*

The data presented in Brain are based on 11 patients with Parkinson´s Disease and 2 patients with essential tremor. In the study, clinical investigators assessed the intraoperative clinical effect of directional stimulation using Aleva’s directSTIM™ lead. This device features two rings consisting of three independent electrodes each. The angular position of the electrodes allows stimulation at 0°, 120° and 240° directions Directional stimulation was tested at the target determined for the permanent lead. The clinical investigators compared the therapeutic window (defined as the electrical current at which side-effects occur minus the current at which a significant therapeutic effect is observed) of directional and classical stimulation. Compared to omnidirectional stimulation, the therapeutic window in the best direction was 41% wider. Furthermore, the current threshold producing meaningful therapeutic effects in the best direction was 43% lower than in omnidirectional stimulation. No complication was observed due to the insertion and removal of the directional lead or during testing.

* Reference:

Pollo C, Kaelin-Lang A, Oertel MF, Stieglitz L, Taub E, Fuhr P, Lozano AM, Raabe A, Schüpbach M – Directional deep brain stimulation: an intraoperative double-blind pilot study. Brain 2014; doi:10.1093/brain/awu102.

Company News: Aleva Neurotherapeutics Announces Promising Clinical Data on Directional Deep Brain Stimulation with directSTIM™

Data Presented at the 2013 Quadrennial Meeting of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) –

Tokyo, Japan, May 30, 2013 – Aleva Neurotherapeutics, a company developing next-generation implants for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in major neurological indications such as Parkinson´s disease or depression, today announced interim clinical data of an interventional, intraoperative pilot study of its novel directSTIM™ electrode. Data were presented at the 2013 Quadrennial Meeting of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) in Tokyo, Japan, on May 30.

In the ongoing pilot study, clinical investigators assessed the intraoperative clinical effect of directional stimulation using the directSTIM™ lead. It features two rings consisting of three independent electrodes each. The angular position of the electrodes allows stimulation at 0°, 120° and 240° directions. After assessment, directSTIM™ was removed and replaced by a classical, ring-shaped permanent DBS lead.

The data reported in Tokyo are based on 5 males with Parkinson Disease, which underwent Subthalamic Nucleus (STN) DBS, and 2 males with essential tremor, which underwent Ventral Intermediate Nucleus of the Thalamus (Vim) DBS. Directional stimulation was tested at the target determined for the permanent lead. The clinical investigators compared the therapeutic window (TW, defined as the electrical current threshold at which side effects occur minus the current threshold at which a significant therapeutic effect is observed) of directional and classical stimulation. Directional stimulation resulted in an improved therapeutic window in five of six patients (the ratio could not be measured in one of seven patients). No adverse event took place.

“This is a real breakthrough in the field of DBS. At present, DBS is carried out using ring-shaped electrodes,” said Claudio Pollo, MD, Head of Functional Neurosurgery at the University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland and Principal Investigator of the study. “This intraoperative study is the first to investigate the proof-of-concept of directional stimulation in humans. The increased therapeutic window demonstrated in the study suggests that directional stimulation is more selective for beneficial effects while avoiding side effects. Moreover, the observed side effects were consistent with what we expected given the anatomical structures surrounding the stimulated area.”

“We are very pleased with the data, as we have proof-of-concept in an intraoperative setting that directional stimulation is measurable and that it is different from classical stimulation,“ said Jean-Pierre Rosat, CEO of Aleva Neurotherapeutics. “This is very promising as it indicates that the effectiveness of DBS may be improved by our novel electrodes.”

Alain Dransart, Aleva’s Clinical and Regulatory Director, concluded: “We are delighted by the way the study is conducted and by the excellent collaboration with the investigators. The pilot study will be completed by the end of this year and we believe its results will pave the way for a future directSTIMTM chronic study.”

Company News: Aleva Neurotherapeutics Raises CHF 4.0 Million in Series B Financing Round

– Lead investor Banexi Ventures Partners joins strong investment consortium –

Aleva Neurotherapeutics, a company developing next-generation implants for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in major neurological indications such as Parkinson´s disease or depression, today announced the closing of a Series B financing round totaling CHF 4.0 million.

Banexi Ventures Partners acted as a lead investor in the financing, with selected private investors also participating in the round. Existing institutional investors are BioMedInvest AG, BB BIOTECH VENTURES III, L.P. and Initiative Capital Romandie.

The proceeds will be used to advance Aleva’s leading-edge neurostimulation products through clinical development up to CE marking. Aleva´s products are based on its proprietary, next-generation microDBS™ technology for Deep Brain Stimulation therapy (DBS).

DBS is targeting a rapidly growing patient population with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia, which currently consists of over six million people worldwide. Other potential application areas include Alzheimer´s disease and dementia.

Aleva’s microDBS™ technology has been designed as a next-generation treatment for target-specific brain stimulation, which is supposed to significantly reduce side effects, potential complications and costs associated with DBS therapy.

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