Autonomix's Trial Results Show Meaningful Reduction In Pain For Patients Suffering From Pancreatic Cancer

Autonomix Medical AMIX is a cutting-edge medical technology company developing targeted nerve therapies to revolutionize how diseases involving the peripheral nervous system are diagnosed and treated. The company’s ongoing proof-of-concept (PoC) human clinical trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation in a transvascular approach to reduce pain associated with pancreatic cancer and, to date, has demonstrated extremely compelling results. If successful, Autonomix has the potential to dramatically impact patient well-being and improve quality of life, offering new hope for patients enduring pancreatic cancer pain.

Key Trial Insights

The initial phase of the clinical trial involved five lead in patients who underwent the procedure without complications or significant adverse events. Some 60% of these subjects experienced a significant reduction in pain, with a mean decrease of 6.33 points on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scale, dropping from a baseline of 8.0 to 1.67 just seven days post-procedure. Patients also reported quick pain relief, with some feeling better as soon as one day after the procedure​​.

A detailed look at the data should provide Autonomix with important insight into optimizing the procedure, particularly the catheter entry point, where three of the five patients who benefited with meaningful pain reduction had femoral access to the catheter and the two that did not respond had brachial access.

The primary objective of this PoC trial is to assess the success rate of ablating relevant nerves to mitigate pain in patients with pancreatic cancer using radiofrequency ablation. Secondary objectives include evaluating device- and procedure-related adverse events up to six weeks post-procedure, changes in pain levels and improvements in quality of life from pre- to post-procedure​​.

Autonomix is proceeding with enrolling an additional 20 subjects to participate in the study and expects to complete enrollment by the end of 2024. The company expects to report topline results from all 20 subjects in the first half of next year.

Clinical Trial Testimonials

According to Autonomix, patients in the responder group reported substantial improvements in their quality of life. On average, these patients noted a 78% enhancement in how they viewed their overall health and a 45% boost in how they viewed their life quality, within seven days of the procedure. This rapid relief is crucial for individuals facing end-of-life situations due to advanced pancreatic cancer, offering them a better quality of life during their remaining time​​.

Patient testimonials further emphasize the impact of the procedure. Before the procedure, patients can struggle with debilitating pain, which affects their ability to sleep, eat and perform daily activities. Post-procedure, patients experienced immediate, life-changing pain relief and could sleep on their back, return to work and attend social events. Additionally, one patient stated they no longer needed painkillers, and experienced significant improvements in overall health and quality of life. This transformation underscores the procedure’s potential to greatly enhance the lives of patients suffering from pancreatic cancer pain.

Technical Approach And Future Plans

Autonomix’s technology aims to improve upon current pain management methods, which often rely on systemic drugs like opioids or invasive procedures that can have severe side effects. Autonomix's catheter-based system is also designed to detect and ablate pain-associated neural signals more accurately. While the current trial focuses on pancreatic cancer-related pain, Autonomix also plans to explore other indications in the future based on these promising results.

A New Dawn In Pain Management

Autonomix's innovative approach to pain management for pancreatic cancer patients is showing encouraging potential. The initial success of its PoC clinical trial offers a glimpse into a possible future where patients suffering from severe pain can find relief through precise and effective medical technology. As the company gathers more data, the medical community awaits its results, which could revolutionize pain management far beyond just pancreatic cancer pain and have applications across all pain and diseases of the peripheral nervous system.

Featured photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice.