Northstar's Buzz
Executive Summary
The hottest clinical space in medical devices may very well be stroke and the hottest technology area could be neurostimulation. Northstar combines both opportunities with an innovative system that addresses a largely un-addressed market--chronic stroke--by stimulating the cortex of the brain. And as promising as this therapy is, it may only be the tip of the iceberg for Northstar
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CoAxia's New Path in Stroke
If the 1990s was the decade of the heart, this was supposed to be the decade of the brain. But the tremendous market for stroke device companies has never quite materialized in part because stroke treatment is so elusive. That elusive nature of therapy has led also to unclear technology solutions, complex regulatory paths, and challenging adoption models. CoAxia is staking its claim with a development and clinical trials strategy that departs from those of other stroke start-ups, aiming to prove clinical efficacy in its complex trials.
CoAxia's New Path in Stroke
If the 1990s was the decade of the heart, this was supposed to be the decade of the brain. But the tremendous market for stroke device companies has never quite materialized in part because stroke treatment is so elusive. That elusive nature of therapy has led also to unclear technology solutions, complex regulatory paths, and challenging adoption models. CoAxia is staking its claim with a development and clinical trials strategy that departs from those of other stroke start-ups, aiming to prove clinical efficacy in its complex trials.
Northstar's Second Chance
For Northstar Neuroscience, which is exploring new approaches for neurostimulation devices, the decision to take the money and run when the device IPO window was open in 2006 has meant the difference between survival or closing up shop. The FDA's recent approval of the company's second study of its Renova cortical stimulation device for the treatment of major depressive disorder is one sign that reports of Northstar's demise may, have been premature. The company's second chance can largely be attributed to the fact that it flew in the face of conventional wisdom that held that it was too early for the company to go public in 2006.