WOBURN, Mass., Dec. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeuroMetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NURO) noted publication of results from a NIH-funded clinical trial of Quell titled "Wireless transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): a proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial." The paper has been electronically published in The Journal of Pain.

The study was a phase 2, multi-site, double blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. A total of 142 subjects with CIPN were randomized to an active or sham Quell device for 6-weeks. Subjects in both arms wore their device for 5 hours each day. Only a small number of minor adverse events were reported, primarily mild skin irritation that self-resolved. The trial met its pre-specified primary endpoint of a significant least-squares between-group difference of the EORTC-CIPN20 total score. The EORTC-CIPN20 is a validated patient questionnaire measuring CIPN related quality of life. Of greater clinical relevance, patients with moderate to severe CIPN symptoms of hot/burning pain, sharp/shooting pain or muscle cramping experienced about a 50% reduction in these symptoms for active treatment compared to about 30% for sham treatment. The study authors concluded "The study supports the preliminary efficacy of the TENS device for painful CIPN symptoms."

"CIPN is very difficult to manage, with no FDA approved treatments. Painful CIPN affects about half of patients with CIPN and is associated with particularly low quality-of-life. Duloxetine is the only treatment recommended for painful chronic CIPN in the current American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines. Therefore, these efficacy results from a sham controlled RCT of Quell in CIPN are clinically important and exciting," said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of NeuroMetrix." As evidenced by its designation from the FDA as a breakthrough device for chronic CIPN, Quell has potential as a safe and effective treatment that can be administered at home. We believe that these clinical trial results along with earlier studies support a pre-market notification (510(k)) which we expect to submit to the FDA before the end of the year."

The use of Quell for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy is investigational and has not been cleared or approved by the FDA. The safety and effectiveness for this purpose have not been reviewed by the FDA.

About Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

About 700,000 cancer patients receive chemotherapy annually in the United States, and worldwide the number is 10 million. CIPN is a disabling complication that occurs in many patients treated with common chemotherapeutic drugs such as vincristine, paclitaxel and cisplatin. A recently published systematic analysis reported that CIPN prevalence was 68% the first month after chemotherapy and 30% six-months after chemotherapy. CIPN symptoms include burning/shooting pain, tingling, cramping, and numbness in the hands and feet. CIPN is also associated with impaired balance, walking, and sleep, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of falls. CIPN is difficult to manage with few treatment options, and those that are used have limited effectiveness and may cause serious side effects.