€53 million for groundbreaking implant-based migraine therapy

Salvia BioElectronics, a Dutch company developing a neurotherapy for people with chronic migraine, has raised €53 million. The round was led by Innovation Industries, a leading European deep tech investment fund, with participation from Invest-NL and EIC Fund. Existing investors also participated.

The funding will enable Salvia to complete clinical development and prepare for the commercial launch of MySalvia Therapy, which is currently being evaluated in a study of people with chronic migraine. The new funding will also enable Salvia to focus on obtaining FDA market authorization in the United States and approvals in Europe and Australia.

Ultra-thin implant

Salvia has developed a technology for the treatment of people with migraine. The personalized MySalvia Therapy consists of an ultra-thin implant designed to treat specific nerves that play a role in migraine. The user can easily activate the therapy themselves. With a single press of the button on the accompanying external device (MySalvia Device), the patient administers targeted stimulation exactly when and where it is needed.

The goal is to reduce the number and severity of migraine attacks. The therapy is being developed as a promising new treatment option, especially for people for whom existing treatments are not sufficiently effective.

Chronic migraine is not “just a headache.” It is a debilitating neurological disorder that forces people to withdraw from their social lives, work, and the life they would like to lead. The implant, therefore, offers hope.

The global impact of migraine

Migraine is one of the most disabling conditions worldwide, costing an estimated $110 billion in lost productivity and medical expenses each year in Europe and the United States alone. Current treatment options do not always provide sufficient relief, causing the majority of chronic patients to discontinue their medication within the first year. This high dropout rate highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies.

Initial results are promising

Results from initial clinical studies with MySalvia Therapy indicate a potential reduction in both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. To further substantiate the effectiveness of the therapy, the RECLAIM study is currently underway in Europe and Australia. Further studies are also planned in the United States.

Salvia's implant is significantly less invasive than conventional technologies, reducing both the complexity of the surgery and the patient's recovery time, and offering a visually discreet solution.

The technology also offers potential for the treatment of cluster headaches, a very painful neurological disorder for which there are currently limited effective treatment options.

Salvia is one of the former winners of the Gerard & Anton Awards: the annual selection of the ten most promising startups in the Brainport Eindhoven region.