Neurotech Startup Neurovalens Receives FDA Clearance for Noninvasive Anxiety Treatment

Neurovalens, a Belfast-based startup specializing in noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain and nervous system, has achieved a significant milestone with the FDA clearance of its second head-mounted treatment device. This approval follows its first FDA clearance for a device targeting insomnia, with the latest approval focusing on treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The company aims to address chronic conditions like obesity-related cardiometabolic risk and PTSD in the future.

CEO Dr. Jason McKeown underscores the importance of the FDA’s 2019 rule change, which paved the way for innovations targeting insomnia and anxiety. This regulatory shift allowed Neurovalens to pursue FDA clearance for its medical devices, requiring rigorous clinical trials to demonstrate efficacy and safety. By focusing on prescribable medical devices rather than consumer-oriented wellness products, Neurovalens aims to differentiate itself as a legitimate treatment option for specific conditions.

The company’s approach involves applying electrical neurostimulation to the skin behind the ear, targeting the vestibular nerve to stimulate key brain regions responsible for metabolic control, stress response, and circadian regulation. Unlike other neurostimulation methods, Neurovalens’ technology delivers highly specific stimulation that penetrates deep brain areas without the need for invasive implants.

While consumers in Europe can directly purchase Neurovalens’ devices, the company is seeking medical device clearances in the U.K. and EU, anticipating approvals for doctors to prescribe its products later this year. The company’s expansion into different treatment areas underscores the potential of noninvasive neurostimulation to address a wide range of chronic conditions, offering an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical interventions with fewer side effects.