We are Salvia BioElectronics
Our mission is to give people with migraine a better life
Salvia BioElectronics is a medical device company pioneering neuromodulation therapies for migraine. Salvia's unique, paper-thin implant is designed to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks by delivering gentle electrical pulses to the nerves associated with the condition. The company is currently in the clinical stage of development. In addition, Salvia is considering potential opportunities the device creates for the treatment of cluster headache and other neurological disorders. Salvia has received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which facilitates expedited market access for devices that treat life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions.
Our solution
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A paper-thin implant for people with migraine
At Salvia, we have developed a paper-thin implant for people with migraine. The implant consists of a flexible bioelectronic foil placed under the skin, near the nerves associated with migraine. By sending gentle electrical pulses through the foil, we aim to effectively calm the nerves and prevent and relieve migraine symptoms.
"I have my life back," said our first clinical trial patient, a woman from Australia who has suffered from debilitating headaches since the age of 14. "This little device allows me to regain control of my life and be fully involved with my kids."
Salvia’s device is not yet approved for commercial use. We make no claims about safety or effectiveness.
Unique bioelectronic therapy
Our nervous system transmits tiny electrical signals that coordinate our body's functions. However, in chronic diseases such as migraine, this communication can become disrupted. Bioelectronic medical devices can play a vital role in restoring this balance by gently modulating nerve signals, much like a pacemaker for the heart, but specifically designed for the nervous system. This is called neuromodulation.
Neuromodulation is not new; it has a well-documented history dating back to the early 1960s. This therapeutic approach has been successfully used to treat individuals suffering from various neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Salvia's expertise is in helping people with migraine and cluster headache. Our bioelectronic foil, designed specifically for the anatomy of the head, can be implanted in the front or back of the head, just under the skin, providing a safe and direct connection to the nerves associated with migraine. Through our neuromodulation therapy, we aim to restore balance to the brain by calming these nerves.
Our goal is to create more 'crystal clear days' for people with migraine.
Crystal clear days are days without pain or brain fog. These crystal clear days symbolize the moments when patients fully regain their quality of life, increase their productivity and actively participate in society.
- Yilong Zheng, Christopher Weiyang Liu, Diana Xin Hui Chan, Damian Wen Kai Ong, Justin Rui Xin Ker, Wai Hoe Ng, Kai Rui Wan, Neurostimulation for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review of High-Quality Randomized Controlled Trials With Long-Term Follow-Up, Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, Volume 26, Issue 7, 2023, Pages 1276-1294, ISSN 1094-7159
- M. D. Johnson et al., "Neuromodulation for Brain Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities," in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 610-624, March 2013, doi: 10.1109/TBME.2013.2244890
MySalvia device and app intend to empower patients to take control
Patients can manage their own migraine treatment with a small, external device called the "MySalvia device". This device interfaces with the implant to activate the neuromodulation therapy, tailored to the patient's needs.
We are also developing the MySalvia app, which, in the future, will allow patients to monitor their progress and access personalized migraine treatments.
Why the name Salvia?
The name Salvia comes from the Latin word "salvere," meaning to be in good health. Throughout history, the Salvia plant has been valued for its extraordinary medicinal properties, known for its ability to relieve pain, alleviate headaches, and even treat mental disorders. At Salvia, we believe everyone deserves good health, and that's why we are passionately committed to improving the lives of people with migraine.
How it started…
Salvia was founded on March 3, 2017 by Hubert Martens, Daniel Schobben and Wim Pollet. Starting with nothing more than innovative ideas and a blank whiteboard, the founders (with extensive backgrounds in medical technology and neuromodulation) began their journey by understanding the needs of medical professionals and patients, building a team and conceptualizing the first shapes, characteristics and functionalities of a neuromodulation solution for people with migraine.
It is not “just a headache”
Migraine affects more than one billion people worldwide each year and is the leading cause of disability in people under 50. Cluster headache, which causes excruciating pain behind the eye, is a rare neurological disorder affecting 1 in 1000 people. Read more about both conditions we address with our bioelectronic solution.