NeuroMetrix announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) De Novo authorization to market the Quell neuromodulation device as an aid for reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia in adults with high pain sensitivity. The company received FDA Breakthrough Designation for the use of Quell to treat fibromyalgia in July 2021.
The data submitted by NeuroMetrix in support of the De Novo request included results from a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. A total of 119 subjects with fibromyalgia were enrolled and randomized to a standard (active) or modified (sham) Quell device for 3-months of at-home use. In a pre-specified subgroup analysis of subjects with high pain sensitivity (N=60), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) was 1.25 (95% CI [0.25, 2.24]) points higher in the active arm compared to the sham arm (p=0.015). PGIC was the primary study outcome measure and represents a subject’s overall belief about the efficacy of treatment on a 7-point categorical scale. The high pain sensitivity subgroup was defined based on Quantitative Sensory Testing and should represent the majority of fibromyalgia patients in real-world practice.
In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis of all randomized subjects (N=119), multiple secondary outcome measures were positive. For example, 57% of those on active treatment exhibited a clinically meaningful improvement in health-related quality-of-life (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, FIQR) compared to 34% that received sham treatment (p=0.014). Subjects in the active treatment arm reported statistically significant improvements in 19 of the 21 symptoms comprising the FIQR instrument, including pain, sleep, fatigue, balance and the ability to carry out typical daily activities. Some of the trial results were published in the Journal of Pain Research recently.
A total of 9 adverse events were reported during the study and deemed to be definitely or possibly related to device use (4 in active arm, 5 in sham arm). All events were minor and self-limited. The most common occurrence was a rash under the Quell electrodes.
“There is an unmet need for effective and safe fibromyalgia treatments. Receiving this De Novo authorization is a key milestone towards the Company's goal of making Quell available as a prescription treatment option for people living with fibromyalgia,” said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, NeuroMetrix. "We believe physicians treating patients with fibromyalgia will be interested in Quell's potential clinical benefits and safety profile. Our initial commercialization efforts will focus on rheumatologists and pain medicine physicians. We anticipate launching in the fourth quarter, with initial prescriptions processed by an online pharmacy partner before the end of this year.”