Benzinga | Sep 8, 2020 07:11AM EDT

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces Publication Of Peer-Reviewed Study In EMJ Radiology

NEWTOWN, Pa., Sept. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSDT) (TSX:HSM) ("Helius" or the "Company"), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today announced the publication of an important, peer-reviewed study titled Translingual Neural Stimulation with the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS(tm)) Induces Structural Changes Leading to Functional Recovery in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury. The study was published in the peer reviewed journal EMJ Radiology. 2020;1[1]:64-71.



Traumatic brain injury ("TBI") of varying severity can result in balance and movement disorders, for which the benefits of treatment with physical therapy has limits. In this study, a 9 patient subset of the original 43 patients published in "Translingual Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Symptoms Due to Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury" with balance issues received translingual neural stimulation ("TLNS") with the PoNS device, in concert with physical therapy, and the effects on grey matter volume ("GMV") in the brain were evaluated. TBI-related balance and movement impairments were also assessed with the Sensory Organization Test ("SOT") and Dynamic Gait Index ("DGI"), which are validated and objective means of scoring such deficits.

When comparing pre- and post-intervention results, the most prominent GMV changes were increases within the cerebellum and temporal regions, which are involved in automatic processing of gait, balance, motor control and visual-motion relationships. Decreases of GMV in the frontal and occipital lobes (which are involved in conscious/effortful processing of gait, balance, motor control, and vision) positively correlated to increases in SOT/DGI scores. These results suggest that TLNS with the PoNS device could induce brain plasticity changes leading to positive changes in functional assessments. Overall, these data indicate that TLNS delivered in conjunction with physical therapy may offer an integrative way to treat balance disorders after a mild-to-moderate TBI.

"The University of Wisconsin, Madison, participated in a multicenter clinical trial of the PoNS to address balance issues after traumatic brain injury and saw the regimen improve subjects' outcomes," said study investigator Dr. Vivek Prabhakaran. "The data published in this article shows that commensurate with clinical improvement experienced by these subjects after the PoNS regime, there were changes in the brain documented with MRI. This suggests that the PoNS regime induces brain plasticity changes, whichmay be relevant forclinical recovery. We shouldcontinue to document these changes in future studies and are keen to see this treatment deployed to help a massive unmet clinical need."

"I am thrilled that the body of scientific evidence showing the potential beneficial effects of our PoNS technology continues to grow," added Dane Andreeff, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Helius. "It is particularly exciting when we can observe, as in this work, the brain changing positively following PoNS Treatment."

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company's purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain's ability to heal itself. The Company's first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS(tm)). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.