Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study Evaluated Deep TMS Treatment in Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Craving for Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder
Study Findings to be Featured Today at Brain Stimulation Conference Symposium
BURLINGTON, Mass. and JERUSALEM, December 9, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – BrainsWay Ltd. (NASDAQ & TASE: BWAY) (“BrainsWay” or the “Company”), a global leader in the advanced noninvasive treatment of brain disorders, announced the publication in the scientific journal Biological Psychiatry of a new randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of the Company’s proprietary Deep TMS™ System for adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD). A presentation of the results of the study will be given today at the 4th International Brain Stimulation Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
The pilot study analyzed data from 46 subjects and revealed encouraging efficacy data relative to placebo in adults with AUD. The primary endpoint of the trial was the reduction in percentage of heavy drinking days (pHDD) over the twelve-week period after the Deep TMS treatment. A heavy drinking day was defined as a day during which four or more drinks were consumed for women, or five or more drinks for men. Subjects in the active Deep TMS group had an average of 2.9 pHDD during the three-month follow-up period compared to 10.6 pHDD in the placebo, a clinically meaningful and statistically significant difference. The H7 Coil is designed to target the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), structures both associated with AUD.
“We are excited about the results of this feasibility study of Deep TMS for patients suffering from alcohol use disorder,” said Christopher Boyer, Vice President of Global Marketing for BrainsWay. “Like many other mental health disorders, there have been a number of reports showing that the global pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence of the alcohol use disorder. With limited treatment options for this life-altering disorder, it is promising to see that Deep TMS therapy may have a meaningful role in addressing this serious worldwide health issue.”
Previous studies suggest that lowering alcohol consumption for several weeks among patients suffering from AUD can initiate recovery of executive and general cognitive functioning, as well as structural and functional modifications throughout the brain. As such, the reduction in consumption induced by active treatment suggests that Deep TMS may be a powerful tool in benefitting those suffering from AUD.
“While we are gaining accumulating knowledge of brain circuits implicated in addictions, it is exciting to present these promising results achieved with Deep TMS in AUD patients” said Prof. Abraham Zangen, Head of the Brain Stimulation and Behavior Lab and the Chair of the PsychoBiology Brain Program at Ben-Gurion University and a scientific consultant for and member of the board of directors of BrainsWay. “This feasibility study, which also included brain imaging measures, is a first step in more fully understanding the potential benefits of Deep TMS for patients suffering from AUD.”
Prof. Zangen will present the findings of the study, along with data on Deep TMS in other addictions including smoking addiction, as part of a featured symposium being held today on novel brain stimulation treatments at the Brain Stimulation Conference, a gathering of prominent researchers and global market leaders in the neuroscience space.
About the Study
The randomized, controlled, double-blind study was conducted at Ben-Gurion University and the Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Data from 46 subjects who completed the acute phase of the treatment course – out of 51 eligible subjects who were enrolled into the study and initiated treatment – was analyzed. Participants were divided into two groups receiving either 20 sessions of Deep TMS with the H7 Coil or placebo stimulation over the course of three months, with five sessions per week during the first three weeks (acute treatment) and five maintenance sessions during the three months of follow-up. Results revealed that the reduction in the percent of heavy drinking days in the active Deep TMS group were significantly greater than that of the placebo group (p = 0.037). Likewise, the reduction in craving levels, a secondary outcome, was significantly greater in active participants versus sham (p = 0.01).
In addition, functional MRI performed before and after the acute treatment revealed that active stimulation modified the connectivity between the ACC and the mPFC as well as the caudate, which may indicate an increased ability to overcome alcohol cravings.
For both the active and placebo groups, treatments were administered following symptom provocation which was tailored to the subject’s specific alcoholic beverage preferences. The primary endpoint was the difference between the groups in the pHDD reduction, as measured during the three-month follow-up period.
Additional evaluations included modifications to structural and functional brain imaging measures. Participants were active alcohol consumers who consumed alcohol in the past month but not in the five days prior to the first MRI scan and/or the first treatment Deep TMS treatment session. During the acute treatment phase, in which relapse to alcohol drinking was prohibited for safety reasons, urine samples were collected daily for alcohol biomarkers. During the follow-up phase, urine samples were collected only during the Deep TMS maintenance treatment visits. Consumption and craving were assessed using standard questionnaires.
The BrainsWay Deep TMS H7 Coil was used in the study and included a placebo element situated within the helmet to facilitate patient and provider blinding. The placebo element produces an acoustic artifact and scalp sensations similar to those achieved with active stimulation from the Deep TMS H7 Coil, albeit with a negligible induced electric field that is insufficient to lead to a therapeutic effect.
No serious adverse events or side effects were reported in the study.
About Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
The most prevalent substance use disorder globally, alcohol use disorder (AUD) encompasses the collection of clinical conditions associated with an inability to cease or control alcohol consumption including alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and alcoholism. As of 2018, there were more than 280 million people worldwide with AUD, and in 2019, 14.1 million adults were living with AUD in the United States. Factors contributing to developing AUD include alcohol misuse (e.g., binge drinking and heavy drinking), drinking at an early age, genetics and family history, and mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The economic burden of AUD in the US in 2010 was calculated at $249 billion per year.
About BrainsWay
BrainsWay is a global leader in advanced noninvasive neurostimulation treatments for mental health disorders. The Company is boldly advancing neuroscience with its proprietary Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS™) platform technology to improve health and transform lives. BrainsWay is the first and only TMS company to obtain three FDA-cleared indications backed by pivotal studies demonstrating clinically proven efficacy. Current indications include major depressive disorder (including reduction of anxiety symptoms, commonly referred to as anxious depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and smoking addiction. The Company is dedicated to leading through superior science and building on its unparalleled body of clinical evidence. Additional clinical trials of Deep TMS in various psychiatric, neurological, and addiction disorders are underway. Founded in 2003, with offices in Burlington, MA and Jerusalem, Israel, BrainsWay is committed to increasing global awareness of and broad access to Deep TMS. For the latest news and information about BrainsWay, please visit www.brainsway.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company only and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the pilot data presented herein, including outcomes/results, patient safety information and adverse event data, remain subject to further analysis and may be subject to further modification. Certain results as expressed herein may be subject to further analysis, modification and/or statistical penalties. In addition, historical results or conclusions from scientific research and clinical studies do not guarantee that future results would suggest similar conclusions or that historical results referred to herein would be interpreted similarly in light of additional research or otherwise. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: inadequacy of financial resources to meet future capital requirements; changes in technology and market requirements; delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing planned studies and clinical trials; failure to obtain approvals by regulatory agencies on the Company’s anticipated timeframe, or at all; inability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of Deep TMS products; unforeseen difficulties with Deep TMS products and processes, and/or inability to develop necessary enhancements; unexpected costs related to Deep TMS products; failure to obtain and maintain adequate protection of the Company’s intellectual property, including intellectual property licensed to the Company; the potential for product liability; changes in legislation and applicable rules and regulations; unfavorable market perception and acceptance of Deep TMS technology; inadequate or delays in reimbursement from third-party payers, including insurance companies and Medicare; inability to commercialize Deep TMS, including internationally, by the Company or through third-party distributors; product development by competitors; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; continuation and/or exacerbation of the global supply chain crisis and its impact on the Company’s ability to source components, meet customer demand, fill orders, maintain pricing levels and support the Company’s service needs; and the effect of the global COVID-19 health pandemic on our business and continued uncertainty and market impact relating thereto.
Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Contacts:
BrainsWay:
Scott Areglado
SVP and Chief Financial Officer
844-386-7001
Scott.Areglado@BrainsWay.com
Investors:
Bob Yedid
LifeSci Advisors
646-597-6989
Bob@LifeSciAdvisors.com
Media Contact:
Will Johnson
brainsway@antennagroup.com
(201) 465-8019
