A device developed by a University of Nottingham spinout to ease the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome has been recommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NHS spending watchdog.
Neupulse’s digital wristband stimulates the median nerve in the wrist to help control the tics or involuntary movements caused by Tourette’s.
The company raised £500,000 earlier this year from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, through fund manager Mercia Ventures, to help it gain regulatory approvals.
It expects the device will be approved for use in the UK before the end of 2026 and plans to make it available to patients directly.
The NICE recommendation is currently in draft format and will need to be agreed by a committee following public consultation, but if the current guidelines are passed, it could mean the wristband is made available on the NHS free of charge and prescribed by doctors once the device has been approved for use by regulators.
It is the first time that NICE has recommended digital therapies for Tourette’s and chronic tic syndrome. Tourette’s affects around one in 100 children, and more than 300,000 children and adults in the UK in total. However treatment options are limited. Experts estimate less than 20% of children and young people with tic disorders have access to behavioural therapies which are often recommended.
Neupulse was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from the University of Nottingham. Clinical trials have shown its device can reduce tic frequency on average by 25% on initial use, with a further reduction in frequency after four weeks of use. The company has raised almost £4.5m in funding to date to help bring it to market.
Paul Cable, CEO, Neupulse, said: “The announcement from NICE is a vindication of our product and clearly highlights the need for more treatment options. While we are planning to make our device available directly to people with Tourette’s, having it prescribed by doctors would bring the benefits to a wider audience.
“NICE has launched a public consultation and we urge those affected by Tourette’s to register with NICE and make their views known. Overall the draft guidance is a big step forward for Neupulse and for the wider Tourette’s community.”
Sandy Reid of Mercia Ventures added: “Winning backing from NICE is a major achievement for any healthtech company, but particularly for one at such an early stage. We believe that Neupulse’s device could transform lives and this recommendation further justifies our faith in the company.”
Neupulse is one of two digital therapies recommended by NICE, the other being an online guided self-help intervention, ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics).