Thync Pilot Study Demonstrates First Effective Use of Bioelectronics to Treat Psoriasis
- Supports a Non-Invasive, Systemic, Bioelectronic Approach to Treating Psoriasis -
LOS GATOS, Calif., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thync Global Inc., a bioelectronics company, today reported positive results from a pilot study evaluating the use of its proprietary neuromodulation technology to treat psoriasis. The study showed that compared to a placebo group, patients using Thync's neuromodulation technology had a significant reduction in redness, scaling and itchiness of their plaque psoriasis after four weeks. There were no reported side effects. These results demonstrate the potential of a non-invasive, systemic bioelectronics approach to treating an autoimmune skin disorder.
In the single-blind study that enrolled 28 patients, 15 of the 18 subjects in the treatment group (83%), reported at least a 50% reduction in psoriasis symptoms after four weeks. Six patients out of 18 reported more than a 75% reduction of these symptoms. In comparison, after four weeks, only 2 of 10 patients (20%) within the active placebo control group reported at least a 50% reduction in symptoms. The difference in psoriasis symptom improvement between the treatment and control groups was highly statistically significant (p = 0.0005). Both groups included patients with mild to severe psoriasis. Graphs are included below that show the percentage of patients in both the Thync treatment and active placebo groups who experienced significant reductions in their psoriasis symptoms.
"This is the first study that demonstrates the effectiveness of a neuromodulation technology in treating a dermatological condition," said Sumon Pal, PhD., Chief Scientific Officer of Thync. "We are excited that we may have a new treatment paradigm for the millions of patients that suffer from this debilitating disease. Our next step is to generate clinical data through collaborations with leading institutions such as the University of California, San Francisco."
In the study, patients used Thync's neuromodulation system for at least 10 minutes a day for four weeks. The system is worn on the neck and uses proprietary neurostimulation algorithms that painlessly stimulate specific nerves to systemically modulate the autonomic nervous system. The improvement of psoriasis symptoms was reported on a weekly basis. The primary endpoint of the study assessed the percentage of patients using the Thync system who achieved a significant (≥50%) improvement of symptoms compared to an active placebo group at week four. Participants were allowed to continue concurrent medications, which consisted mostly of topicals.
Thync's technology uses proprietary algorithms to electrically stimulate specific cervical and thoracic spinal nerves. Stimulation of these nerves systemically modulates activity in the sympathetic nervous system and this approach has been validated through a number of peer-reviewed studies. The sympathetic nervous system is involved in the body's stress response and also influences a number of immune processes. By modulating the sympathetic nervous system, Thync's neuromodulation technology could be altering the immune response underlying the pathogenesis of psoriasis and potentially of other autoimmune disorders.
"The nervous system plays a powerful role in modulating the immune response," said Sumon Pal, Ph.D. "By creating a technology that can non-invasively manipulate the neurogenic pathways that regulate the immune system, we can provide a drug and side-effect free therapy for psoriasis. Further, this technology has implications for other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Bioelectronics has the potential to treat millions of patients that suffer from these disorders and we believe our technology is an important step in the realization of this vision."
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects 7.5 million people in the United States. It is characterized by an abnormally excessive and rapid growth of the epidermis, specifically with the pre-maturation of keratinocytes. This rapid growth is thought to be spurred on by chemical inflammatory signals from the immune system. The resulting affected skin has patches of thick raised skin with white scaly plaques on top. Psoriasis has a profoundly negative impact on the quality of life of patients and can lead to social isolation, depression and suicide.
There is no cure for psoriasis or vaccine to prevent it. There are effective treatments for the symptoms of psoriasis such as topical ointments, orals, and biologics, but these options often present side effects with prolonged use. Bioelectronic therapy is fully complementary with current treatments and does not carry the risks and side effects resulting from the prolonged use of chemical and biologic substances.
About Thync
Thync is a bioelectronics company focused on developing pioneering treatments for mental health and autoimmune disorders, through the external stimulation of the nervous system. Thync's non-invasive, bioelectronic platform targets autonomic nervous system pathways important in a number of disease processes while providing superior safety relative to pharmaceutical interventions. More information is available at www.thync.com.
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SOURCE Thync Global Inc.
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