Medical devices major St. Jude Medical (STJ) has won the Japanese regulatory clearance for its new Penta surgical lead for neurostimulation therapy to treat chronic pain, a vastly under-treated condition afflicting millions globally. The product is now available in the island nation.
Chronic pain, which is long lasting or recurring, is common in several back and spine conditions and is often misdiagnosed. Poor prognosis of chronic back/spinal pain typically leads to treatment failure.
Neurostimulation (also known as spinal cord stimulation/SCS) has a proven track record in providing pain relief to patients and is primarily used for chronic pain management when physical and/or drug therapies are ineffective. Mild electrical impulses are delivered to the spinal cord that interrupt pain signal transmission to the brain, thereby offering relief.
The Penta surgical lead has been designed for complex pain types such as low back pain and arm and leg pain. It selectively stimulates the nerve fibers surrounding the pain area without affecting other areas. The Penta lead leverages St. Jude’s proprietary micro-texturing process, which enables greater amounts of electric current to be delivered through small electrodes (electric conductors).
The Penta lead represents another key addition to St. Jude’s expanding neurostimulation product portfolio. It can be used along with the company’s Eon Mini spinal cord stimulator, the world’s smallest, longest-lasting rechargeable neurostimulator. Apart from Japan, Penta lead is also available across the U.S., Europe, Australia and Canada.
St. Jude’s Neuromodulation division offers various neurostimulation systems. The company is one of the three major manufacturers of neurostimulation devices along with Medtronic (MDT) and Boston Scientific (BSX). More than 75,000 patients across 40 countries have been implanted with St. Jude’s neurostimulation devices.
The neurostimulation market is growing at a healthy pace driven by growth in age-related neurological conditions and the significant need for effective alternative therapies. This market is forecasted to grow 15% annually, offering a compelling prospect for the incumbent players.
We believe that growth in St. Jude’s Neuromodulation franchise will be fostered by the expanded adoption of deep brain stimulation (“DBS”) systems and sustained uptake of the Eon Mini system. Currently, we have a Neutral recommendation on St. Jude, which is in line with a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold).
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