In-licensing

A global healthcare company is currently seeking devices that can be used to relieve pain, particularly electrotherapy devices.

A global healthcare company is currently seeking devices that can be used to relieve pain, particularly electrotherapy devices in the areas of microcurrent, low intensity ultrasound and pulsed shortwave therapy that have been developed to be portable and can be used by consumers rather than healthcare professionals. The device should also be capable of providing additional benefits such as promoting healing and can be used alone or with an additional active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) containing product.

Background

Electrotherapy devices have been around for a number of years, namely Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Other technologies have become available more recently and more research and clinical testing is being performed. Although mainly used in a clinical setting, they are also available direct to consumers. When used at the correct dose for the patient they can have very beneficial effect in terms of pain relief and, dependent on the modality used, additional effects like promotion of healing rate and quality of healing. These can be especially beneficial for chronic pain sufferers who want to limit their drug intake.

Technical Requirements

Mandatory   Literature based evidence for the technology and proposed  specification.

                  Presentation detailing technology, specification, design, proposed indications

                  and use and supporting evidence and costs

Preferred    Sample product for evaluation

                  In vivo clinical research on the actual device showing therapeutic benefit over       

                  placebo

                  CE mark approval for sale in Europe for proposed device

The device should also meet the following requirements for incorporation into a consumer product:

1. Not be harmful for human use.
2. Manufacturing process proposed should not be cost prohibitive
3. Overall product cost appropriate for consumer products
4. Technology must not reduce the quality of the user's experience e.g. skin irritation/burn, overly bulky
5. Ideally offer scope for patent protection with the desired application and format.

 

 

 

Early Stage

The company is seeking technologies and approaches that provide relief from a wide range of pains using drug-free devices, namely the electrotherapies; microcurrent, low intensity ultrasound and pulsed shortwave therapy that are portable and suitable for the direct to consumer market. These devices could be used in the home or on-the-go and therefore miniaturized compared to the devices used in the clinical environment. Relevant indications include back pain, joint pain and arthritic conditions and muscular pain. The device can be re-chargeable, multiple use or single use. It should be developed to at least prototype stage.

As well as pain relief, devices that can also provide a beneficial tissue repair/healing effect are desired.

The device can be used alone or in combination with a product containing API eg gel or patch.

Out of scope technologies include TENS, shockwave therapy and laser therapy, non-portable devices or those that can not be used safely or effectively by a consumer with supervision of a healthcare professional.