JERUSALEM, July 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brainsway Ltd. (TASE:BRIN) is pleased to announce that it has received interim results with respect to a clinical trial being conducted at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashome to assess the efficacy of the Company's Deep TMS device in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder ("OCD") using a specialized coil developed for this purpose.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, a total of nine patients have undergone the trial to-date (out of 45 patients expected to be recruited). The trial subjects were divided into two groups: a real treatment group and a sham treatment group. The primary outcome measure for therapeutic efficacy was the change in patients' Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, or Y-BOCS, a standard test to rate the severity of OCD symptoms. In parallel, treated subjects underwent repeated electroencephalography, or EEG, testing, a reliable and objective tool for measuring the effect of magnetic treatment.
The results showed that 40% of patients in the group receiving active therapy experienced improvement in their condition based on Y-BOCS. In addition, EEG testing showed a reduction in pathological activity that correlated with treatment effect. In contrast, there were no patients in the sham treatment group that experienced improvement. Both real and sham treatments were well tolerated by patients and there were no side effects observed in either group.
The principal investigator of the trial and a leading authority on OCD, Prof. Joseph Zohar, commented, "While preliminary and based on a limited number of patients, these interim results are very encouraging. Accordingly, we believe that further study is warranted."
About Brainsway Ltd.
Brainsway is dedicated to the development and marketing of Deep TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimluation) systems - novel, noninvasive medical devices for treatment of a wide range of neurological and psychopathological disorders. In principle, any brain-related disorder that is associated with pathological activity of specific brain sites may be treated by this method. Potential applications include addiction, schizophrenia, obesity, eating disorders, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Our initial focus is the treatment of major depression. The unique technology of Brainsway is based on patents filed by the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) and by the company. Brainsway has an exclusive license from the NIH for the patent and technology. Headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, the company's ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol 'BRIN'.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.