Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, resulting in an estimated $110 billion annually in lost productivity and medical costs in the EU and the US alone. Current treatment options often fail to provide sufficient relief, with most chronic patients discontinuing their medication within the first year. This high dropout rate highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies.
Salvia, a clinical-stage medical device company, is transforming migraine treatment with its pioneering neuromodulation technology. Their ultra-thin implant targets key nerves involved in migraine, aiming to reduce both the frequency and intensity of attacks.
Today, Salvia BioElectronics announced the completion of a $60 million oversubscribed Series B financing round, bringing its total funding to over $90 million. Innovation Industries, a European deep tech venture capital firm, led the round, which was participated in by Invest-NL and EIC Fund. Existing investors Inkef, Panakès Partners, SHS Capital, Dolby Family Ventures, BOM, and Thuja Capital also joined the round.
The company’s mission is clear: to restore freedom and quality of life for people with chronic migraine. The funds will enable Salvia to complete clinical development and prepare for the commercial launch of MySalvia Therapy, currently being evaluated in the RECLAIM study. Additionally, the funding will support Salvia’s efforts to obtain FDA market authorisation in the US and regulatory approvals in Europe and Australia.
“With the support of this strong investor syndicate, we are empowered to bring MySalvia Therapy to patients in desperate need of new treatment options. With this funding, we are advancing toward regulatory approval and commercialisation, with the ultimate goal of reaching millions of people affected by chronic migraine,” said Hubert Martens, founder and CEO of Salvia BioElectronics.
Advancing hope for chronic migraine patients
Salvia BioElectronics, founded in 2017 by Hubert Martens (CEO), Daniel Schobben (CTO), and Wim Pollet (Chief Medical Officer), is a clinical-stage medical device company pioneering neuromodulation therapy for chronic migraine patients. The founders bring decades of experience in medical devices and neuromodulation, with backgrounds at companies such as Sapiens, Medtronic, Philips, and St. Jude, and expertise spanning R&D, clinical affairs, and commercialisation.
Martens says, “Chronic migraine is not ‘just a headache.’ It is a debilitating neurological condition that forces people out of their social life, their work, and the life they want to live. Our mission is to restore their freedom. MySalvia Therapy is designed to provide relief and create a meaningful, lasting impact. We believe people with migraine deserve the opportunity to reclaim their lives.”
Salvia BioElectronics is pioneering neuromodulation therapy to transform migraine treatment. MySalvia Therapy features an ultra-thin implant that comprehensively targets key nerves involved in migraine.
Salvia’s technology stands out through its minimally invasive, ultra-thin, flexible bioelectronic implants, specifically tailored for the unique head and neck anatomy, unlike conventional, bulkier neurostimulation devices. The system is user-activated and on-demand, empowering patients to control their therapy with a wearable device. Salvia is driven by the belief that people with chronic migraine deserve the opportunity to reclaim their lives.
Active in the United States, Europe, and Australia, Salvia is advancing clinical development with the support of leading investors. The company is also exploring the potential of its technology for treating cluster headaches.
Behind Salvia: redefining migraine therapy with advanced neuromodulation
Salvia’s FDA-designated Breakthrough Device offers a promising new treatment option for patients who haven’t responded to available therapies. Early clinical data show potential reduction in both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks using the company’s neuromodulation technology.
MySalvia Therapy puts patients in full control. It uses two ultra-thin implants placed just beneath the skin of the forehead and the back of the head. Salvia’s approach is user-activated and on-demand. To activate therapy, patients use an external wearable device and simply press a button to deliver targeted stimulation exactly when and where needed.
Salvia faces competition from established medical device companies and emerging startups in neuromodulation and migraine treatment. Key competitors include large players like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Abbott, which offer neurostimulation therapies for pain and neurological disorders, though not explicitly optimised for migraine.
Other emerging companies, such as Cefaly and Neurolief, provide noninvasive neuromodulation devices for migraines, but Salvia’s fully implantable, patient-controlled, and anatomically optimised system is unique in its class. This positions Salvia as a frontrunner in delivering a minimally invasive, long-term solution for chronic migraine patients who don’t respond to existing therapies.
“Salvia BioElectronics is redefining the migraine therapy landscape with a bold, patient-centred approach that combines cutting-edge neuromodulation with an elegant, minimally invasive design,” said Caaj Greebe, Partner at Innovation Industries. “At Innovation Industries, we invest in breakthrough technologies that have the potential to solve the most pressing real-world challenges, and Salvia BioElectronics does exactly that: offering life-changing solutions for millions of people living with chronic migraine. We are excited to partner with the Salvia team as they advance through their clinical development to deliver a meaningful new therapy.”
