FDA Approves St. Jude Medical’s Neurostimulation Device to Treat Parkinson’s Disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a brain implant from St. Paul, Minn.-based St. Jude Medical Inc. that helps reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes rhythmic shaking.

According to the FDA, the Brio Neurostimulation System from St. Jude Medical can help some patients when medication alone may not provide adequate relief from symptoms such as walking difficulties, balance problems, and tremors.

An estimated 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, according to the National Institutes of Health, and about one million Americans have the condition. The neurological disorder typically occurs in people over age 60, when cells in the brain that produce a chemical called dopamine become impaired or die. Dopamine helps transmit signals between the areas of the brain that produce smooth, purposeful movement—such as eating, writing and shaving.

Essential tremor affects several million people and usually occurs in people older than 40.

“There are no cures for Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor, but finding better ways to manage symptoms is essential for patients,” said William Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., acting director of the Office of Device Evaluation at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “This new device adds to the array of treatment options to help people living with Parkinson’s and essential tremor enjoy better, more productive lives.”

The Brio Neurostimulation System consists of a small (1.9 inch x 2.1 inch x 0.4 inch) battery-powered, rechargeable electrical pulse generator implanted under the skin of the upper chest and wire leads that attach to electrodes placed within the brain at specific locations depending on whether the device is being used to treat Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. The electrical pulse generator continuously delivers low intensity electrical pulses to target areas in the brain. Health care providers make adjustments to the pulse generator to optimize the effects of the Brio Neurostimulation System.

Data supporting the safety and effectiveness of the device system included two clinical studies. One study included 136 patients with Parkinson’s disease and the other included 127 patients with essential tremor. In both studies, patients had symptoms, including tremors, that were not adequately controlled with drug therapy. 

The Brio Neurostimulation System was used in addition to medication for patients with Parkinson’s disease and the majority of patients with essential tremor who used the device were able to control their symptoms without the need for medications. Researchers implanted the Brio Neurostimulation System in all patients and assessed effectiveness for Parkinson’s disease patients at three months and essential tremor patients at six months. Both groups showed statistically significant improvement on their primary effectiveness endpoint when the device was turned on compared to when it was turned off. 

Serious adverse events included intracranial bleeding, which can lead to stroke, paralysis or death. Other device-related adverse events included infection and dislocation of the device lead under the skin.

Brio Neurostimulation System is the second device approved by the FDA for Parkinson’s and essential tremor. The first device, Medtronic’s Activa Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy System, was approved in 1997 for tremor associated with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. In 2002, the indications were expanded to include the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

In its early stages, Parkinson’s disease typically affects one side of the body and starts as problems with movement, stiffness, and mild tremors. Gradually, the symptoms can affect both sides of the body and medications may become less effective. People with late stage Parkinson’s disease have many symptoms including: trouble walking, impaired posture and balance, muscle stiffness and tremors in the arms and hands that make it difficult to perform everyday tasks.  

Essential tremor most often affects the hands and arms and can be slowly progressive, starting on one side of the body but eventually affecting both sides. Hand tremor is the most common symptom, but tremors can also affect movement in the head, arms, voice, tongue, legs, and trunk. About half of essential tremor cases result from a genetic mutation. For the remainder of cases, the cause is unknown, according to the agency.