VAGUS NERVE STIMULATORS MARKET ANALYSIS

Vagus nerve stimulator, also known as the pacemaker for the brain, is a device used to generate electrical impulses, in order to stimulate the vagus nerve. These electric impulses travel to brain and are dispersed to different areas to alter the activity of nerves, so that the brain cells work correctly. Vagus nerve is a mixed nerve composed of 20% efferent fibers and 80% afferent fibers. The efferent fibers are responsible for sending signals from the brain to the body while afferent fibers are sensory in nature and are responsible for carrying information from the body to the brain. The vagus nerve is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in regulation of specific involuntary body functions such as digestion, heart rate, and immune system. Vagus nerve stimulators can be used to treat different neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, cluster headache, migraine, Crohn's disease, dyskinesia, and others. Vagus nerve stimulators can also be used as a rehabilitation aid for stroke.

Global vagus nerve stimulators market is estimated to be valued at US$  628.3 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.0% over the forecast period (2022-2030).

Figure 1. Global Vagus Nerve Stimulators Market Share (%), By Region, 2022

The increasing prevalence of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and others is expected to drive growth of the global vagus nerve stimulators market over the forecast period.

For instance, according to the data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in September 2021, depression is a common mental disorder, which it is estimated to affect around 5.0% of adults and 5.7% adults older than 60 years, globally in 2019. The same source also states that around 280 million people in the world suffered from depression, as of 2018-19.

Figure 2. Global Vagus Nerve Stimulators Market Value (US$ Mn), By Application, 2022

The increasing research and development activities for the development of technologically advanced vagus nerve stimulators is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

For instance, in September 2020, ReShape Lifesciences Inc., a U.S.-based weight-loss and metabolic health-solutions company announced positive pre-clinical result for its Diabetes Bloc-Stim Neuromodulation (DBSN) device, a dual vagus nerve stimulator for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Key players operating in the market are focusing on obtaining regulatory approvals of their vagus nerve stimulators, which is expected to drive growth of the global vagus nerve stimulators market over the forecast period.

For instance, in April 2020, electroCore, Inc., a U.S.-based medical technology company announced that it received approval of an expanded indication from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for gammaCore, a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator to include prevention of migraine in adult patients. Previously, gammaCore was indicated as an adjunctive therapy for cluster headache, as well as for pain management, in case of episodic cluster headache and migraine headache.

Global Vagus Nerve Stimulators Market – Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) was first reported from Wuhan, China in December 2019, and was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), which designates SARS-CoV-2 infection as novel coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Weekly Epidemiological Update by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has spread across the globe infecting over 511 million population leading to more than 6.2 million deaths as of May 1, 2022. The negative impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare domain is huge and it has significantly disrupted the healthcare industries’ entire supply chain, from raw materials to manufacturing and delivery. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to show a positive impact on the overall growth of vagus nerve stimulators market, owing to the association of COVID-19 with neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, etc. and rising research activities investigating the potential of vagus nerve stimulators to be used as a treatment or management for COVID-19.

For instance, according to an article published by the Lancet journal, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, in November 2021, it is estimated that an additional 53.2 million cases of major depressive disorder were reported globally in 2020, an increase of 27.6% from 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The same source also estimated that an additional 76.2 million people suffered from anxiety disorders globally in 2020.

Global Vagus Nerve Stimulators Market - Restraint

The risks of technical failures and high cost associated with vagus nerve stimulators are the factors that are expected to hinder growth of the global vagus nerve stimulators market over the forecast period.

For instance, according to an article published by the World Neurosurgery journal, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal, in June 2018, some of the complications related to vagus nerve stimulators can result from lead fracture, disconnection, battery displacement or device malfunction. The same source presents a case of a 25-year-old male patient (U.S.) with a vagal nerve stimulator implanted for epilepsy who reported neck pain whenever he turned his head to the right. Post investigation, it was found that vagal nerve stimulator had a partial lead fracture, after which the implant had to be replaced.

Moreover, according to an article published by the Epilepsia journal, a peer-reviewed medical journal, in April 2017, use of vagus nerve stimulators is associated with early and late stage complications. Early stage complications include microbial infections, dyspnea (shortness of breath), etc. while late stage complications include laryngopharyngeal dysfunction, which occurs in about 66% of patients with implanted vagus nerve stimulators.

Key Players

Major players operating in the global vagus nerve stimulators market include LivaNova PLC, electroCore, Inc., SetPoint Medical Corporation, Beijing PINS Medical Co., Ltd., Parasym Ltd., Nervana, LLC, tVNS Technologies GmbH, BioControl Medical, NeurAxis, Inc., Soterix Medical Inc., MicroTransponder Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cyberonics, Inc., EnteroMedics Inc., ReShape Lifesciences Inc., and Cerbomed GmbH