Australians Gain Access to Breakthrough Treatment for Depression

Melbourne, Australia, 23 February 2015 – Physicians and patients across Australia now have access to a breakthrough treatment for depression, NeuroStar TMS Therapy®, following its inclusion on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
 
The non-invasive, non-drug treatment for major depressive disorders is brought to Australia by Neuronetics, Inc. - the established market leader in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) technology.
 
Deputy Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Centre (MAPrc), Professor Paul Fitzgerald, says, “NeuroStar TMS Therapy has been designed for high volume clinical use. It is user friendly, reliable and accurate, allowing for safe, effective and consistent treatment of patients suffering with major depressive disorder.
 
“The introduction of NeuroStar TMS Therapy is an important step forward in meeting the substantial unmet need for treatment of major depressive disorder in Australia. We’ve been at the forefront of clinical trials with NeuroStar, and we want to be at the forefront of clinical treatment for patients as well,” said Professor Fitzgerald.
 
NeuroStar TMS offers non-invasive, highly focused MRI-strength magnetic field pulses which lead to activation of cortical and deep brain structures known to be involved in mood regulation. More than 26,000 patients have been treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy to date, and it is currently being used at more than 650 locations worldwide[1].
 
One in five Australians will experience depression in their lifetime[2]  making it the third highest burden of all diseases in Australia.[3]
 
Neuronetics, Inc. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Demitrack, says, “NeuroStar TMS Therapy is an effective, safe, non-drug treatment for people living with major depressive disorder who have failed to benefit from antidepressant medication that has had a positive impact on many people throughout the world. We are pleased to be able to provide Australians access to this effective treatment option.”
 
NeuroStar TMS Therapy was included on the ARTG following two randomised controlled trials and a naturalistic acute and long-term outcomes study in major depressive disorder, documenting its safety and efficacy in patients with major depression.
 
Neuronetics is pleased to partner with distributor Device Technologies Australia Pty Ltd (Device Technologies), an Australasian-based leader in technologically advanced medical equipment and consumables, to help medical facilities and physicians adopt NeuroStar TMS Therapy.

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About NeuroStar TMS Therapy®
The NeuroStar TMS Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is a non-systemic (does not circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body) and non-invasive (does not involve surgery) form of neuromodulation. It stimulates nerve cells in the brain by delivering highly focused MRI-strength magnetic field pulses which lead to activation of cortical and deep brain structures known to be involved in mood regulation. The treatment is available by prescription and typically administered daily for 4-6 weeks.
 
The NeuroStar TMS Therapy System was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2008 on the basis of the largest randomised controlled trial evaluating TMS in depression. In an independent National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) sponsored randomised controlled trial, patients treated with TMS using a clinical trial version of the NeuroStar TMS System were four times more likely to achieve remission compared to patients receiving sham treatment (P = 0.0173, odds ratio = 4.05). The most common side effect of NeuroStar TMS Therapy is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. It is contraindicated in patients with non-removable conductive metal in or near the head.
 
For full safety and prescribing information, visit www.NeuroStar.com. 
 
About Neuronetics, Inc.
Neuronetics, Inc., is a privately held medical device company focused on developing non-invasive therapies for psychiatric and neurological disorders using MRI-strength magnetic field pulses. Based in Malvern, PA, Neuronetics is the leader in the development of TMS Therapy, a non-invasive form of neuromodulation. NeuroStar®, NeuroStar TMS Therapy® and TMS Therapy® are registered trademarks of Neuronetics, Inc. For more information, please visit www.neurostar.com or www.neuronetics.com.
 
About Device Technologies
 
Device Technologies is an Australian-owned distributor of technologically-advanced medical equipment and consumables.
 
The company’s wide range of products is supported by highly trained product specialists, clinical educators, service engineers and regulatory affairs personnel to provide superior outcomes for medical and surgical staff and their patients.
 
Device Technologies maintains offices throughout Australia and in New Zealand.
 
Media Contacts: 
Emma Humann
Haystac, Australia
Tel: 613-9693-2265
Mobile: 614-19-387-572
emma.humann@haystac.com.au
 
Sue McMonigle
Neuronetics, Inc. USA
Tel: 610-981-4153
Mobile: 215-527-4205
smcmonigle@neuronetics.com


[1] Neuronetics, Inc. Data on File
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 4326.0, 2007. ABS: Canberra.
[3] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007). The Burden of Disease and Injury in Australia. AIHW: Canberra

Contact Information

Emma Humann

Media Contact

Haystac, Australia

(61) 613-9693-2265

emma.humann@haystac.com.au