Battelle announced today that it entered into a collaborative agreement with Spark Biomedical to jointly run a pilot clinical study.
Through the joint study, the two companies aim to advance the remote detection and treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) using wearable biosensors.
According to a news release, the study’s primary objective is to collect physiological data from the biosensors for patients experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms, cravings and addiction-related physiological stressors using the Battelle NeuroHub system. Once data is acquired, the team will develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to detect withdrawal using objective physiological biomarkers.
Once the study is completed, Spark and Battelle intend to use the resulting AI algorithm to develop a new, more objective physiological assessment tool for opioid withdrawal measurement, as well as to develop AI and machine learning algorithms for understanding mental health states and move toward the development of a closed-loop neurostimulation solution for opioid withdrawal.
The companies plan to begin the study in the summer of 2022 and run it throughout the year before leveraging the data and each company’s respective technology solutions to create a new, holistic closed-loop opioid withdrawal assessment and treatment solution.
“As we enter a new world where telehealth medicine is gaining momentum, we need more efficient methods to help patients alleviate their opioid withdrawal symptoms at home or in an outpatient setting,” Spark Biomedical CSO and co-founder Dr. David Khodaparast said in the release. “Better, more accurate remote assessment of withdrawal symptoms is an important first step. Ultimately, a closed-loop neurostimulation treatment solution will allow a doctor and patient to accurately monitor and efficiently treat their symptoms. That kind of targeted precision could significantly improve relapse and OUD treatment outcomes.”