OnVagus prepares a first human trial for cancer-related wasting

The Terasaki Institute announced approval for OnVagus to begin a first human trial of its nerve-stimulation device for cancer-related cachexia. The October 7 announcement describes an initial safety study involving ten pancreatic cancer patients at MD Anderson.

The device acts through the skin to modulate the vagus nerve, avoiding a surgical implant. Its rationale comes from earlier preclinical work on the pathways involved in wasting.

Approval to start a trial is a development milestone, not a demonstrated treatment effect. The initial study must establish whether the approach is tolerable and suitable for further evaluation in people.