EDAP Announces FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for Focal One in the Treatment of Deep Infiltrating Rectal Endometriosis
Focal One HIFU has potential to address large market impacting thousands of women each year
EDAP TMS SA, the global leader in robotic energy-based therapies, announced today that its Focal One platform has been granted Breakthrough Device designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). In June 2018, the FDA cleared Focal One Robotic Focal HIFU for the ablation of prostatic tissue.
“Receiving Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA represents a major milestone and reinforces our commitment to expand the use of Focal One Robotic HIFU technology to treat other patient conditions beyond prostate disease,” said Ryan Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP TMS. “This designation reflects the FDA’s recognition that deep infiltrating endometriosis remains a significant unmet medical need in women’s health with few treatment alternatives. By expanding our proprietary robotic HIFU technology, we aim to provide women with a safe and effective treatment option that is significantly less invasive and less morbid than conventional surgical approaches.”
By definition, the FDA’s Breakthrough Device designation is granted to products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. This unique program is intended to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to medical devices by speeding up development, assessment, and review. The Focal One system being granted a Breakthrough Device designation underscores the significance of this innovative development for DIE patients.
Rectal endometriosis induces lesions associated with painful symptoms that can seriously alter quality of life for many women. Focal One HIFU is a non-invasive, robotic ablative procedure using a high-intensity ultrasound probe to deliver tissue devitalization through use of acoustic cavitation and thermal ablation.
In January 2022, EDAP reported positive results from the Phase 2 Endo-HIFU-1R study (N=60) evaluating Focal One HIFU for the treatment of deep infiltrating rectal endometriosis, and this data was included in EDAP’s submission in consideration for receiving Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA. The study evaluated the effect of HIFU treatment on endometriosis symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL). Results showed a significant decrease of the evaluated symptoms (acute pelvic pain, dyspareunia, diarrhea, constipation, rectal bleeding, false urges, tenesmus, rectal spams, posterior pelvic pain and asthenia) from the first post-treatment evaluation (at one month), and the reduction of symptoms was maintained at three and six months following HIFU treatment. With respect to QoL measurement, a significant improvement was also observed from the first month after HIFU treatment and maintained at three and six months after treatment for almost all evaluated criteria: physical functioning, role limitation due to emotional problems, energy – fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, bodily pain, general health, and on physical and mental global score components. The study also blindly evaluated the evolution of nodule volume via MRI, noting a significant reduction of the volume of lesions observed at six months. Results from the study also showed a positive safety profile with 96.7% of patients with no or non-significant adverse events (Clavien 1), 3.3% of treated patients presenting Clavien 2 complications and zero patients presenting Clavien 3 complications.