Abbott (NYSE:ABT) today announced FDA approval of an expanded indication for the company’s Infinity deep brain stimulation system.
Abbott boasts that Infinity is now the only directional DBS system approved for all major targets used to treat movement disorders, Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
The new indication is for targetting the brain’s internal globus pallidus (GPi), which plays an integral role in motor function. The Infinity system already had indications to target the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM).
“The internal segment of the global pallidus, or GPi, is a well-established valuable DBS target for the management of the motor signs associated with Parkinson’s disease, and is a preferred target for many patients, particularly for those with troublesome medication induced dyskinesia,” said Dr. Jerrold Vitek, director of the University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson’s Research.
“This approval expands the options for patients to tailor treatment to their unique needs, with the added benefits of being able to target precise areas and utilizing a patient-friendly iOS device,” Vitek said in an Abbott news release.
Dr. Binith Cheeran, Abbott’s director of medical affairs for deep brain stimulation, described the approval as a “significant advancement for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care teams.”
“The ability to optimize the programming for each individual opens the door for a new standard of care for DBS therapy,” Cheeran said.