Leading medical device player
Medtronic Inc.
(
MDT
) continues to focus on the promising neuromodulation business.
The company recently started enrollment for a Prospective,
Randomized Study of Multicolumn Implantable Lead Stimulation for
Predominant Low Back Pain dubbed PROMISE.
The study will compare the performance of Specify 5-6-5
multicolumn surgical leads in conjunction with optimal medical
management (OMM), with the administration of only OMM in patients
with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and predominant low back
pain. PROMISE is the first study to analyze the efficacy of
Medtronic's neurostimulation therapy (also known as spinal cord
stimulation) on a large scale for chronic back pain. Earlier
studies had focused predominantly on leg pain.
The PROMISE study is expected to support the use of
Medtronic's neurostimulation therapy in individuals who suffer
from low back pain despite back surgery as oral medications may
not provide sufficient relief to these patients. The study will
enroll about 300 such individuals at 30 centers in the U.S., the
U.K., Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and The
Netherlands.
Medtronic's neurostimulation therapy is a well-regarded
treatment for chronic back and/or leg pain. According to the
company, more than 250,000 individuals across the globe have
benefited from the therapy.
According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, over 100
million U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain (as of Jun 2011)
while data from
European Journal of Pain
suggests that one out of every five adults in Europe suffers from
chronic pain (as of 2006). Research published by
Pain Medicine
journal shows that back pain, the most prevalent kind of chronic
pain, affects the lives of 10% of the U.S. population. Further,
the clinical studies in the journal revealed that oral medication
and/or physical rehabilitation was not enough to improve the
condition of FBSS patients.
Thus, FBSS patients need additional interventions. Medtronic's
neurostimulation therapy could just be the right treatment option
for that. Positive results from the study and the subsequent
commercialization should drive revenues for the company's
flourishing neuromodulation business.
The stock carries a short-term Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Despite
Medtonic's effort to drive growth and profitability, currency
headwinds and competitive landscape in the presence of large
players like
St. Jude Medical
(
STJ
) and
Boston Scientific
(
BSX
) keeps us on the sidelines. Currently, these stocks also carry a
Zacks Rank #3. However, neuromodulation company
Cyberonics
(
CYBX
) carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and warrants a look.
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