Autonomix Medical announced today that it completed the first three patient procedures in a proof-of-concept trial of its ablation technology.
The Woodlands, Texas-based Autonomix designed its transvascular radiofrequency (RF) ablation technology to treat pancreatic cancer pain.
Current approaches to treat this pain include opioids or ethanol injections. However, Autonomix says those approaches may only provide limited relief and may lead to risky side effects. The company hopes its tissue ablation technology opens the door to a “novel, blockbuster disease treatment.” In January, Autonomix completed an animal study, leading to this proof-of-concept effort.
The company designed its catheter-based technology to perform two tasks. First, it senses neural signals associated with pain or disease. Then, it precisely targets those nerves for treatment.
Autonomix set out to successfully ablate somatic nerves and mitigate pain in its proof-of-concept trial. The first three patients presented pancreatic cancer pain and received RF ablation with the company’s transvascular approach.
In total, Autonomix plans to enroll 20 subjects at one clinical trial site, plus up to five additional patients. It expects to complete enrollment before the end of 2024.
“We are pleased to have safely completed the first patient procedures utilizing RF ablation in a transvascular approach to reduce the pain associated with pancreatic cancer, said Autonomix CEO Lori Bission. “The principal investigator was able to navigate the catheter to the target treatment area and perform the specified ablations with no significant adverse events. These completed procedures represent a significant milestone as well as important momentum in the advancement of both our technology and the treatment landscape for pancreatic cancer pain where there remains an unmet need.”