Revolutionizing Mental Health Treatment: Tiny Brain Stimulator Offers Hope for Treatment-Resistant Depression
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a groundbreaking collaboration between Motif Neurotech, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and UTHealth Houston, a remarkable achievement has been unveiled—the successful use of a millimeter-sized brain stimulator in a human subject. This cutting-edge research, now available on the preprint server medrxiv, marks a significant step towards unlocking minimally invasive therapies for treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric disorders.
Motif Neurotech, a pioneering neurotechnology company, is at the forefront of developing minimally invasive bioelectronics for mental health. The team conducted their groundbreaking procedure at Baylor St Luke’s Medical Center, demonstrating that their miniature implants can safely and effectively stimulate the human brain without making contact with the brain’s surface. Moreover, these implants have shown their mettle in large animal studies, providing safe and effective brain stimulation for over 30 days.
Motif’s groundbreaking innovation is a miniature brain pacemaker designed to precisely stimulate the brain, restoring healthy circuit activity to combat mental health disorders. This pea-sized implant, which can be inserted in a quick 20-minute outpatient procedure, promises at-home therapy with minimal side effects compared to traditional drug-based treatments. The flagship product aims to tackle treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a particularly challenging form of major depressive disorder (MDD).
MDD affects millions of Americans each year, with up to a third of diagnosed individuals failing to respond to two or more different antidepressant drugs, leading to TRD. The consequences are dire, with decreasing symptom relief and a higher chance of relapse after each failed treatment. TRD places an annual burden of $43.8 billion on the healthcare system.
Jacob Robinson, Ph.D., CEO & Founder of Motif Neurotech, shared his excitement, stating, “We’ve developed what we believe is the smallest implantable brain stimulator demonstrated in a human subject. Our wireless, battery-free device will enable a minimally-invasive neurostimulation solution to treat neuropsychiatric diseases such as TRD. With our technology, a short outpatient procedure will enable long-lasting therapy with very few side effects compared to drugs.”
Dr. Sameer Sheth, Co-Founder of Motif Neurotech and a neurosurgeon at Baylor College of Medicine, emphasized the potential impact of this innovation: “This tiny device, which cannot be seen once implanted, provides at-home stimulation that engages brain networks known to treat depression. This is the same brain area activated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is proven to treat TRD but requires frequent clinic visits and usually only provides temporary relief. This new at-home based therapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment options for patients with depression.”
Motif’s approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional neuromodulation systems by using a precisely targeted implant and wearable headset for at-home episodic neuromodulation. This approach, proven effective for TRD, offers a promising alternative to costly and challenging treatments like TMS, providing new hope for individuals battling this challenging condition.
About Treatment-Resistant Depression
Depression, a silent epidemic affecting nearly 300 million people across the globe, casts a long shadow over lives of all ages. It ranks as the leading cause of disability on a global scale, its effects reverberating across all facets of existence, from overall quality of life to daily functioning. Within this realm, major depressive disorder (MDD) emerges as a formidable adversary—a biologically-rooted affliction that inflicts unrelenting suffering.
Yet, amid this struggle, a disheartening reality emerges: nearly one-third of MDD patients find no respite in traditional pharmacologic treatments, locked in the grip of treatment-resistant depression. This pressing challenge underscores the urgency of innovative approaches to mental health.
About Motif Neurotech
In the realm of mental health, Motif Neurotech is charting a bold course with their pioneering wireless minimally-invasive neuromodulation therapeutics. Their flagship product, a miniature implant designed to combat treatment-resistant depression, stands at the vanguard of innovation. What sets this technology apart? It’s powered by cutting-edge wireless magnetoelectric power transfer technology, a breakthrough born from the minds at Rice University.