Massachusetts-based renowned medical devices manufacturer Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) recently received the CE Mark for its new Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System used to treat tremor. This complements the company’s strategic focus to boost non-core segments such as neuromodulation.
Tremor is characterized by involuntary and rhythmic trembling observed in a person when he finds difficulty in activities like writing or holding and controlling items. The most common form of tremor is known as essential tremor (ET) which is 20 times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease. Moreover, ET can take on the form of progressive disorder, that is, although initiated on one side of the body, it can gradually affect both sides. Notably, though ET is more common among older people, the symptoms may occur at any age.
The cause of this precarious disease is still unknown although it is found to be mostly hereditary, where children of an ET parent have a 50% chance of inheriting this movement disorder. Given such a situation, the need to address ET is of utmost priority. We are thus upbeat about the impending European launch of Boston Scientfic’s Vercise DBS System following the CE mark.
According to Boston Scientific, it is the first system that offers precise neural targeting, allowing customized therapy options. Precise neural targeting, in particular, promises advanced tremor care.
The Vercise DBS System was first launched in 2012 to treat Parkinson's disease and later, in 2013, it was commercialized for the treatment of dystonia. The company, with the latest approval, expects strong adoption of the system in the European market.
The DBS System holds both CE Mark and TGA (Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration) approval for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It has also acquired CE Mark for intractable primary and secondary dystonia, and is available for sale in Europe, Israel, Australia and selected countries in Latin America. In the U.S., the Vercise DBS System is still used for investigational purposes. In mid-2013, the INTREPID clinical trial began enrollment in the U.S. to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this system for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Other Stocks to Consider
Boston Scientific currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the medical product sector that look promising at the moment are Abaxis, Inc. (ABAX), Hospira Inc. (HSP) and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (HRC). All the three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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