Friedman visits Woburn NeuroMetrix facility

WOBURN – On December 18, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) visited NeuroMetrix, a company in Woburn that develops wearable medical technology and point-of-care diagnostics to help patients and physicians better manage chronic pain, nerve disorders, and associated sleep disturbances. NeuroMetrix is the manufacturer of Quell, an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weareable therapeutic device for chronic pain.

Friedman met with Frank McGillin, Chief Commercial Officer, and Vanessa Thomas, Director of Consumer Marketing at NeuroMetrix to tour the facility, learn about Quell and its impact on treating those with chronic pain, and share her thoughts on policy issues related to chronic pain –particularly complications around insurance reimbursements for alternatives to drugs.

“I was pleased to visit NeuroMetrix in Woburn and learn about the technology currently being manufactured to serve as a means to treat chronic pain without a prescription,” said Friedman, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. “As we continue to address the over-prescription of opioids in our state, it is important that we look for additional ways for chronic pain patients to get the treatment that they need, and products like Quell are an interesting and innovative alternative.”

Quell is a drug free solution that taps into the body’s natural pain response system to block chronic pain. It combines advanced neurotechnology in a weareable format with an app for users to personalize and control therapy while tracking their pain and relevant health metrics.

The comprehensive opioid treatment bill championed by Friedman ensures that patients with genuine, chronic pain have access to opioid and non-opioid treatment options that are vital for pain management. In addition, it continues to regulate the over-prescription of highly abusive opioids, which has traditionally been one of the major factors contributing to the opioid crisis.

The bill also created a MCPAP for Pain program, which would provide remote consultations to primary care practices, nurse practitioner and other health care providers who are caring for chronic pain patients. In addition, the bill requires insurance companies to cover the full array of services for pain treatments, which may include acupuncture, chiropractic, and physical therapy.

Friedman represents the 4th Middlesex district, which includes Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, and precincts 1-2 and 4-7 in Lexington. For more information, visit www.cindyfriedman.org.

ABOUT

Founded in 1996 as a spinoff from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, NeuroMetrix is a commercial stage, bioelectrical and digital medicine company driving innovation to address chronic health conditions including chronic pain and diabetes. Building on its roots in diagnostics technology, NeuroMetrix applied the same science to develop its lead product, Quell®, an over-the-counter wearable therapeutic device for chronic pain. Quell is integrated into a digital health platform that helps patients optimize their therapy and decrease the impact of chronic pain on their quality of life. The company also markets DPNCheck®, a rapid point-of-care test for diabetic neuropathy, which is the most common long-term complication of Type 2 diabetes. Based in Waltham, Mass., NeuroMetrix maintains an active research effort and has several pipeline programs.