Northstar begins cortical stimulation study
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Northstar Neuroscience is starting a second clinical trial of its Renova cortical stimulation system for major depressive disorder (MDD), following approval of the study by the US FDA. PROSPECT II will enrol 24 patients and will report preliminary results in the second half of 2009. Seattle, Washington-based Northstar reported data from its PROSPECT I feasibility study at the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery meeting in Vancouver, Canada, in June 2008, showing that the beneficial effects of cortical stimulation increase over time. The Renova system consists of an implanted pulse generator, cortical stimulation lead and a programming system. Stimulating the cerebral cortex has shown promise in MDD patients in whom drugs and other therapies are ineffective.