Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that it posted positive 12-month results validating the superiority of its DTM spinal cord stimulation (SCS).
Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic’s multicenter, randomized controlled trial produced statistically significant 12-month data that validated the DTM SCS’ (using the Medtronic Intellis platform) superiority in providing relief for back pain when compared to conventional SCS therapy, according to a news release.
At 12 months, 84% of patients with chronic back pain who received DTM SCS treatment reported at least 50% pain relief, compared to 51% of the conventional SCS treatment population. Additionally, the proportion of patients who reported profound back pain skewed in Medtronic’s favor.
Pain relief was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with a 69% reduction in VAS score for patients treated with DTM SCS, while the score for conventional SCS dropped by just 35.1%.
The study also met its primary endpoint at three months, while pre-specified secondary analysis showed the superiority of Medtronic’s technology and sustained the results at 12 months.
“DTM SCS is based on a novel understanding of how neurons and glial cells contribute to chronic pain,” Medtronic VP & GM of its pain therapies business Charlie Covert said in the news release. “The 12-month data reported demonstrate the value of Medtronic’s continued focus on pursuing science-based approaches to improving human health and underscore our ability to integrate existing technologies with novel therapies like DTM SCS to improve the outcomes of people suffering from chronic pain.”
