Nevro Corp. has announced FDA approval and a limited market release of its HFX iQ system powered by HFX AdaptivAI, an AI-driven spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system designed for personalized chronic pain management. The company plans a full market release in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2024.
HFX AdaptivAI: Personalized Pain Relief
HFX AdaptivAI is designed to provide personalized and responsive pain relief by optimizing therapy over time, even after patients achieve significant pain reduction (over 50%). The system leverages millions of data points and ten years of patient care insights to deliver tailored treatment.
According to Nevro CEO and president Kevin Thornal, "HFX AdaptivAI delivers personalized pain relief, utilizing AI and leveraging millions of data points and ten years of innovation and patient care... Importantly, HFX AdaptivAI puts patients in control of their pain relief while, at the same time, providing physicians the ability to monitor their patient's pain journey."
Key Features and Benefits
The HFX AdaptivAI system incorporates several key features:
- Bipole Interlacing: This proprietary technology creates customized therapy programs in real-time using direct patient input.
- Smart Power: Therapy optimization through advanced Smart Power technology allows patients to charge their device as infrequently as six times per year.
- Enhanced Real-Time Insights: The system gathers real-time quality of life (QoL) metrics and device data, facilitating more impactful patient-clinician interactions and enabling patients to report pain relief more quickly.
- Advanced Proactive Remote Monitoring: Physicians can remotely monitor their patients’ pain management journey through Nevro’s healthcare provider portal.
Clinical Perspective
Dr. David Caraway, Nevro’s chief medical officer, emphasized the personalized nature of chronic pain, stating, "To effectively treat suffering – as perceived by each patient – therapies must be personalized based on the changing experience of pain. Only HFX AdaptivAI seeks to engage with the patient and personalize the SCS therapy in real time using evidence based on algorithms and multi-dimensional metrics of pain relief, function and satisfaction."
Dr. Usman Latif from The University of Kansas Health System noted, "Drawing from landmark evidence and big data, this technology has the potential to offer patients a faster and more sustainable approach to pain relief... [it] is on the right path to make a lasting impact on how we manage chronic pain and improve patient outcomes."
Market Context
The spinal cord stimulation market is projected to reach $4.8 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from its $2.1 billion valuation in 2022. This growth is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic pain, an aging population, and technological advancements in SCS devices.
Nevro's Strategic Moves
In December 2023, Nevro acquired Vyrsa Technologies for approximately $75 million, a move expected to enhance its capabilities in developing advanced solutions for chronic pain management.
