Benzinga | Dec 9, 2021 09:46PM EST

BrainsWay Announces Publication Of Deep TMS Trial Results For Reduction Of Heavy Drinking In Alcohol-Dependent Subjects

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(tm) 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.