NEWTOWN, PA — Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSDT) will reveal groundbreaking findings from its PoNSTEP study at the 2025 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, taking place May 28-31 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The study evaluates the efficacy and long-term benefits of the company’s Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS®) Therapy in improving mobility for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
According to Deborah Backus, PT, Ph.D., FACRM – Vice President of Research and Innovation at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center and one of the study’s collaborators – the data provide key clinical validation of PoNS Therapy’s impact on walking function for MS patients. “PoNSTEP data provide the first clinical evidence that there’s a statistically significant relationship between adherence to PoNS Therapy and the degree of improvement – and that the improvement can be sustained,” said Dr. Backus. “For a population that has long faced limited treatment options for gait deficits, this represents an important step forward.”
Study Highlights
The PoNSTEP study was a three-phase, real-world therapeutic analysis designed to measure the effects of patient adherence to PoNS Therapy on outcomes such as walking and balance. Combining non-invasive cranial nerve translingual neuro-stimulation (TLNS) with prescribed physical exercises, the therapy yielded compelling results for participants.
Key findings include:
- Adherence Drives Outcomes: Patients using the device at least 85% of the recommended time (100–120 minutes per day) during the 12-week intensive therapy phase saw gait improvements of more than 6 points on the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), a critical measure of walking function. Those with moderate adherence (around 70%) improved by 5 points.
- Sustained Efficacy: More than 95% of participants maintained their improvement levels six months following the study’s conclusion, highlighting the long-term benefits of PoNS Therapy.
“We recognize the profound impact gait deficits have on quality of life for people with MS and are committed to advancing treatment options,” said Dr. Antonella Favit-Van Pelt, Chief Medical Officer of Helius. “PoNSTEP is the latest in a series of important milestones for PoNS.”
Empowering MS Patients
Designed to address gait deficits and leverage the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity, PoNS Therapy combines advanced neuromodulation with a defined exercise regimen. Importantly, this innovative therapy is already gaining traction, with access supported by key insurance providers, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, as well as select commercial providers.
Helius officials, including Dr. Favit-Van Pelt, will be available at booth 600 during the CMSC Annual Meeting to discuss these promising findings. Dr. Backus will present the full study details on May 29 from 3:20-3:40 p.m.
By confirming the link between adherence and sustained improvement, the PoNSTEP study solidifies PoNS Therapy as a vital resource for enhancing mobility in MS patients, offering new hope for individuals contending with limited therapeutic options.
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