Event Showcased the Evolution of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Technology and Allowed Investors a First Look at the Digital Pill and Prescription Pod Hardware
SAN FRANCISCO, January 15, 2023
Inner Cosmos, makers of the “Digital Pill” –– the first product of its kind and the smallest neurostimulation device designed to treat the largest cognitive disorder in the world, depression –– unveiled its flagship prototype this week at a gallery-style event during JP Morgan’s Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.
Inner Cosmos received FDA Investigational Device Exemption approval in 2022 to conduct the first human study in depression using novel stimulation technology in the last 17 years, breaking through a stagnant treatment landscape for the largest chronic illness in the world.
In July 2022, Inner Cosmos launched its first human trial utilizing its novel approach. The technology sends tiny electrical currents into the brain to target imbalanced networks that contribute to depression. Such precision ordinarily requires invasive cranial surgery, but Inner Cosmos’ Digital Pill safely delivers precision stimulation through the cranium, eliminating the need for invasive surgery. Another patient is scheduled to join the trial, currently underway, in the coming months.
“As a neurosurgeon, I want to remove the neurosurgery risks associated with implants for depression,” said Eric Leuthardt, Chief Medical Officer at Inner Cosmos. “Mitigating these concerns enables us to create a scalable solution for millions of patients. To do that, Inner Cosmos has designed an innovative device that will lead to a seismic shift in the management of mood and cognitive diseases.”
“Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and new treatments are desperately needed,” said Dr. Darin Dougherty, Pioneer of Neuropsychiatric BCI & Neurotherapeutics and Chief Psychiatrist at Harvard University. “Inner Cosmos has developed a device that is low risk with high reward: easily implanted with portable brain stimulation at an FDA-approved brain target for depression. This brings the power of brain stimulation to the patient.”
In March 2022, the company announced that it closed a $10M seed funding round led by Tel-Aviv based venture capital fund, lool ventures, with participation from KittyHawk VC and Loup Ventures, among others.
Inner Cosmos cares deeply about ethics and co-creating a world that restores humanity’s cognitive power by rebalancing the human brain into harmony. The first application of the company’s technology is for severe depression, the largest chronic disease in the world, which has been estimated to have dramatically increased following the pandemic.