FDA approves De Novo bimodal neuromodulation device to treat tinnitus
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Tinnitus, which is commonly known as 'ringing in the ears', is a complex neurological condition that causes a perception of sound when there is no external source. It is estimated that at least 25 million Americans2 are currently suffering from tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a silent burden on the USA's national healthcare system, costing an estimated $660 per patient per year for visits to clinics alone.
Tinnitus is also the most prevalent and fastest-growing service-connected disability compensated for by The US Veterans Administration (VA), with more than 2.7 million veterans compensated in 20224 and 12% year-on-year growth.
It is estimated that the VA paid out more than $4.9 billion through its Veterans Compensation benefits program for tinnitus alone in 20226, with further undisclosed expenditure on treatments, such as hearing aids, sound therapy and counselling, which deliver varying levels of success.
"Lenire's approval not only means that millions of Americans living with tinnitus can get the treatment they need but further validates over a decade of research and development that resulted in a safe solution that provides relief for tinnitus patients. Lenire is the first bimodal neuromodulation device to go through the rigors of the FDA's De Novo process.
For patients that are at least moderately impacted by their tinnitus1, Lenire has now been shown to be more effective than sound therapy, which is one of the current clinical standards of treatment." said Ross O'Neill, Neuromod Devices' Founding CEO.
The FDA's De Novo approval is based on the success of Lenire's third large-scale clinical trial, TENT-A3, supported by Real-World Evidence from 204 patients. Over the entire trial, 79.4% of the patients experienced a clinically significant improvement, 82.4% were compliant to bimodal treatment, and 88.6% responded that they would recommend Lenire as a tinnitus treatment.
The TENT-A3 primary endpoint analysis showed that patients that were at least moderately bothered by tinnitus, which includes patients in the moderate, severe and catastrophic categories as defined by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)
, achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in tinnitus following the bimodal treatment phase of the trial.
The analysis showed that this patient group were more likely to achieve a clinically meaningful improvement using Lenire's bimodal sound and tongue stimulation than sound therapy alone.
TENT-A3 also demonstrated that Lenire is inherently safe with zero serious adverse events.
These efficacy, compliance and safety findings were highly consistent with the Real-World Evidence from 204 patients included in the De Novo submission.
TENT-A3 was a controlled clinical trial, designed by Neuromod to meet the FDA's requirements, that compared the effects of 6 weeks of bimodal neuromodulation with 6 weeks of sound therapy alone.
The trial was conducted at three independent sites from March to October 2022 with 112 enrolled participants8. The De Novo approval of Lenire is significant as it acknowledges Lenire as a technological and clinical pioneer for tinnitus treatment. This approval establishes a new regulatory category for medical devices in the USA.
"With this FDA approval of the Lenire device, it will provide me and tinnitus specialists across the United States with an exciting new tinnitus treatment option for our clinical toolbox," explained Dr. Jason Leyendecker (AuD).
"Many tinnitus patients are not availing of currently available options, such as hearing aids and counseling, and success with these options is varied. What is especially encouraging about this new bimodal treatment is that it can deliver clinical benefits in as short as 6 weeks of treatment, which can greatly improve our capacity issues since more patients can be helped in a shorter period of time."
Dr. Leyendecker is a leading tinnitus specialist and owner of The Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic of Minnesota. He is the past President of Minnesota Academy of Audiology and President Elect of Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
The TENT-A3 trial builds upon the success of two previous landmark clinical trials that included more than 500 patients. TENT-A1 was one of the largest and longest followed-up clinical trials ever conducted in the tinnitus field.
The study was the cover story for the prestigious scientific journal Science – Translational Medicine in October 2020. TENT-A1 was a double-blind randomized trial involving 326 patients who were evaluated over a 12-week treatment period and a 12-month post-treatment phase9. 86.2% of those who completed the 12 weeks of treatment reported improvement in their tinnitus severity.
These therapeutic improvements continued for 12 months after cessation of treatment. 83.7% of patients were treatment compliant and there were zero serious adverse events in the trial9.
The results of Lenire's second large-scale clinical trial, TENT-A2, were published in the highly regarded scientific journal Nature – Scientific Reports. The findings of this 192-patient double-blind randomized trial showed that changing stimuli midway through treatment enhanced the effectiveness of bimodal neuromodulation.
95% of patients that completed 12 weeks of treatment reported improvement in their tinnitus severity10. These therapeutic effects were sustained up to 12 months after treatment ended9. 83.8% of patients were treatment compliant and there were zero serious adverse events in the trial10.
"What is most remarkable is the consistency of the efficacy, safety and compliance data across our TENT-A1, TENT-A2 and TENT-A3 clinical trials. Taken together, we have demonstrated the effectiveness and inherent safety of Lenire in over 600 clinical trial patients. De Novo approval from the FDA is another significant achievement in what has been an exciting journey for our bimodal stimulation technology," said Prof. Hubert Lim, Chief Scientific Officer at Neuromod Devices.
Patients with tinnitus are prescribed Lenire by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional, such as an Audiologist or ENT Surgeon, after an assessment for suitability and can complete treatment from home in between follow-up appointments with their clinician.
"FDA approval of the Lenire Tinnitus Treatment System is a quantum leap forward in the caring of patients with bothersome tinnitus. The otolaryngologist now has access to innovative Lenire technology and can prescribe it to patients who are at least moderately impacted by their tinnitus. The majority of these tinnitus patients are either inadequately relieved or are opting not to pursue existing options, such as hearing aids. These patients can now move forward with this impressive treatment system." expressed Dr. Steven W. Cheung, who is a Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and Staff Otorhinolaryngologist at the Veterans Affairs San Francisco Healthcare System.
Following the FDA's granting of approval, Neuromod will train Audiologists and ENT Surgeons specialising in tinnitus care with the intention of treating the first tinnitus patients based in the USA as soon as April 2023. ■