Onward Medical prepares to make paraplegics walk

We still remember this scene, presented to the media in 2018, when a paraplegic left his wheelchair by walking with the help of a walker. This revolution was pioneered by Jocelyne Bloch, neurosurgeon at CHUV, and Grégoire Courtine, neuroscientist at EPFL. This scene is likely to recur in the near future. The research carried out by the two scientists is deployed through a company they co-founded: Onward Medical, which is developing to accelerate the commercialization of this device and its capacity to partially restore motor functions in paraplegic patients. help of electrical stimulation.

Founded in 2015, the company was heavily involved in the certification procedures for its tool, this solution which allows, by means of an electrode implanted above the spinal cord, to restore lost functions thanks to neurostimulation. . This scientific breakthrough made headlines in the media, both scientific and general public. And it continues. The review «Time Magazine» just included the ARC-EX system in its list of the 200 best inventions of 2024. It uses targeted electrical pulses to stimulate neural circuits in the spinal cord, facilitating the reactivation of paralyzed muscles.

As for the certification agencies, it is the American FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) which is full of praise, describing several innovations presented by Onward as “revolutionary”. “Most companies are very happy to see the FDA call one of their inventions revolutionary. We have ten,” rejoices the American Dave Marver. He was the one who was hired in 2020 as general manager of Onward. It is now up to him to move towards the commercial phase of these devices.

It started with an IPO on the Brussels Stock Exchange in 2021, which was nothing less than the largest IPO ever made in this sector in Europe. And why not choose Nasdaq in New York? After all, other Vaud start-ups, such as Sophia Genetics, have taken this step. According to Dave Marver, Onward Medical should cross the Atlantic in a second phase: “The Stock Exchange in Brussels is more favorable than the Swiss Stock Exchange for companies in our field. And I didn’t want us to get into Nasdaq too quickly, but that’s where we’re heading.” This could be done around the turn of 2027, estimates the CEO.

Repatriated to Lausanne

The arrival of the new director, a former member of Medtronic in Tolochenaz, also allowed the return of Onward to Lausanne. “My predecessor had moved part of Onward to the Netherlands, which had moved it a little away from Grégoire and Jocelyne,” explains Dave Marver. I therefore decided to repatriate the majority of our engineers and scientists in order to regain access to all the talents that EPFL trains and to the ecosystem formed around medical technologies.” At the intersection of EPFL and CHUV, around sixty employees have found space below the Bessières bridge, in the city center of Lausanne.

In addition to Onward engineers, this is also where assembly of the ARC-EX module, which controls the impulses sent to the spinal cord, will begin. A sign that the commercial phase is approaching. “We have several important milestones ahead: FDA approval, our first commercial sale, and then revenue growth,” says Dave Marver. And then, there are still studies and publications that we can’t wait to announce.”

American market

It is naturally towards the United States that Onward projects itself. This is where the FDA operates and it is its decision that Switzerland is awaiting to in turn validate the Onward device. “We are increasing our presence in the United States, and we are also heading towards the German market,” explains Dave Marver. We will be active in Switzerland too, it is our cradle, and we give it a greater priority than the size of the market would suggest.” And then, a partnership with an American company should open doors for it, indicates the CEO: “Lovell is a company owned by a disabled former soldier. This position gives him privileged access to contracts with the American government.

The network of neurosurgeons is also growing. Onward Medical indicates that around twenty of them should be able to implant this new device next year. It remains to be seen the question of reimbursement by insurance for an operation which costs several tens of thousands of francs. “We have demonstrated that these therapies can provide more independence and a better quality of life, which offsets the need for external assistance,” assures Dave Marver. In this sense, we are convinced that insurance will cover our therapies in all major global markets.”

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Alain Détraz has been a journalist for the Vaud section of “24 Heures” since 2005. After covering various areas of local news, he has been in charge of the Vaud Economy page since 2022.More info

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