Global Neurosciences Institute Performs First SetPoint® System Procedures in Southern New Jersey

FDA-approved neuroimmune modulation therapy is now available to eligible adults living with rheumatoid arthritis across Southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Pennsylvania.

VALENCIA, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Neurosciences Institute (GNI), a leading group of medical specialties focused on delivering collaborative, patient-centered neurological care, and SetPoint® Medical, a commercial-stage medical technology company dedicated to improving care for people living with chronic autoimmune diseases, today announced the completion of the first SetPoint System procedures for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. The procedures were performed by Rudy Rahme, MD, a neurosurgeon at GNI.

The SetPoint System, which is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved neuroimmune modulation therapy, consists of a miniaturized implantable neurostimulator and a wireless charger for at-home use. It is indicated for adults with moderately to severely active RA who have experienced an inadequate response, loss of response or intolerance to one or more biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

"What stands out from a neurosurgical standpoint is both the refinement of the SetPoint System and the collaborative care model behind it," said Dr. Rahme. "It is a small, fully integrated implant, placed on the vagus nerve through a procedure that draws on the same skills we use in the neck every day. By working closely with rheumatologists across the region, we can offer RA patients access to a new FDA-approved, device-based therapy."

Patients can access SetPoint Therapy through a growing network of rheumatology practices across Southern New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania, including Lebanon Internal Medicine Associates in Lebanon, Pa., and Arthritis, Rheumatic & Bone Disease Associates (ARBDA), an affiliate of Trabecular Medical Group, which has locations across Southern New Jersey.

"We are very excited to offer a new, FDA-approved, innovative, non-medicinal treatment for rheumatoid arthritis to our patients," said Dr. Thomas Kantor, a rheumatologist at Lebanon Internal Medicine Associates. "Many people with RA have tried a variety of medications and still have active disease that acutely impacts their everyday lives. The SetPoint System works via a neuroimmune mechanism instead of or even with anti-rheumatic drugs, and having Dr. Rahme and GNI as our surgical partner means our patients can access it here in the region."

RA is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation that produces joint pain, swelling and stiffness. If inadequately controlled, it can cause progressive structural damage and disability. An estimated 1.5 million U.S. adults are affected by RA. Despite advances in biologic and targeted synthetic drug therapies, a meaningful proportion of patients fail to reach or maintain low disease activity. Cumulative immunosuppression carries infection and tolerability burdens, underscoring the need for therapies with novel, non-immunosuppressive mechanisms of action.

"Neuroimmune modulation is an entirely different therapeutic category that uses the body's natural neuroimmune pathways to restore immune balance and reduce inflammation while preserving immune surveillance," said Murthy V. Simhambhatla, Ph.D., president and CEO of SetPoint Medical. "Expanding into Southern New Jersey means more patients get access to an entirely new approach to managing their RA. We are grateful to AtlantiCare, GNI and the region's rheumatology practices that are building coordinated, multidisciplinary care pathways that make patient access possible."

About SetPoint System

The SetPoint® System is indicated for use in the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response, loss of response, or intolerance to one or more biological or targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. It should not be used if you have had a vagotomy or splenectomy, or if your healthcare provider determines that it is not safe for you to use the SetPoint System. Risks may include, but are not limited to, pain or infection after surgery, hoarseness, bruising, swelling, coughing and throat irritation.

For full safety information, please see Instructions for Use and our Important Safety Information at spm.care/ISI.

Individual results may vary.

About SetPoint Medical

SetPoint Medical is a commercial-stage medical technology company dedicated to improving care for people living with chronic autoimmune diseases. The company's FDA-approved SetPoint® System is the first neuroimmune modulation therapy available for people living with rheumatoid arthritis, offering a novel, device-based alternative for those who do not respond to or cannot tolerate biologic or targeted drug therapies. SetPoint's proprietary integrated neurostimulation platform is designed to activate innate anti-inflammatory pathways in the vagus nerve to reduce inflammation and restore the immunologic setpoint. With a vision to redefine the care of autoimmune conditions, SetPoint is also planning to evaluate its platform technology for other conditions including multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease. Learn more at www.setpointmedical.com. 

Dr. Rahme and Dr. Kantor have not been compensated in connection with this press release.

SOURCE SetPoint Medical