AerWave Medical, Inc. has completed its first in-human study of its disease-modifying ultrasound lung denervation therapy for COPD and asthma, paving the way for a larger study in the future. The initial study began in June 2024.
The company said in a news release that the first in-human study was conducted on five patients to demonstrate the feasibility and procedural efficiency of AerWave’s ultrasound platform. The platform simplifies and enhances lung denervation by eliminating the need for fluoroscopic guidance, esophageal marker balloons and multiple catheter exchanges.
The study’s primary investigator, David Tchkonia, MD, PhD, interventional pulmonologist and member of the European and World Associations for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, said that by delivering precise circumferential ablation in a single energy application, AerWave’s approach aims to reduce airway smooth muscle construction, addressing the underlying drivers of the disease rather than just managing symptoms.
“This study underscores the transformative potential of AerWave’s technology to redefine the treatment paradigm for COPD and asthma,” Dr. Tchkonia said. “For the first time, we’ve demonstrated that our ultrasound-based denervation performed in lobal bronchi can achieve precise nerve ablation efficiently and reproducibly without the risk of gastroesophageal or cardiac complications.”
AerWave said that it’s ultrasound technology can deliver precise treatment in one targeted ablation procedure while avoiding sensitive areas like peri-esophageal nerves. The shorter procedure also uses a single-shot circumferential approach, which eliminates fluoroscopy and ancillary devices and offers a universal catheter design suitable for diverse airway anatomies.
