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NCT03131960: VNS-REHAB

Pivotal Study of VNS During Rehab After Stroke (VNS-REHAB)

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 20 July 2022
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Cerebrovascular Stroke in 108 participants. Completed in 30 June 2022.

Timeline
1 July 2017
Primary endpoint
30 April 2020
30 June 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsorMicroTransponder Inc.
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingquadruple
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment108
Start date1 July 2017
Primary completion30 April 2020
Estimated completion30 June 2022
Sites20 locations across United Kingdom, United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

MicroTransponder Inc.

Who can join

Adults 22 to 80, any sex, with Cerebrovascular Stroke or Upper Extremity Paresis. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) Average Change Primary · V5, One day after 6-weeks of therapy

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) was analyzed for difference in average change at 1-day after 6-weeks of therapy compared to baseline (Difference in average change in FM-A from baseline \[V4\] to one day after therapy \[V5\]). The upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) was collected at each visit. The FMA-UE is a common scale used to measure motor impairment after a stroke. The range is 0 (more impairment) to 66 (no impairment).

GroupValue95% CI
VNS + Rehabilitation (1)5.0± 4.4
Control VNS2.4± 3.8
Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) Average Change Secondary · V7, 90 days after 6-weeks of therapy

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) was analyzed for change in average score at 90-days after 6-weeks of therapy (change in average FMA-UE from baseline \[V4\] to 90 days after therapy \[V7\]). The upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) was collected at each visit. The FMA-UE is a common scale used to measure motor impairment after a stroke. The range is 0 (more impairment) to 66 (no impairment).

GroupValue95% CI
VNS + Rehabilitation (1)5.8± 6.0
Control VNS2.8± 5.2
Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) Response Secondary · V7, 90 days after 6-weeks of therapy

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Upper Limb (FMA-UE) Response is the percent of patients with a 6 point or greater improvement on the (FMA-UE). The percent of patients with the 6-point change is calculated at 90-days after 6-weeks of therapy compared to baseline (V4). The upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) was collected at each visit. The FMA-UE is a common scale used to measure motor impairment after a stroke. The range is 0 (more impairment) to 66 (no impairment).

GroupValue95% CI
VNS + Rehabilitation (1)25
Control VNS13
Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) Average Change Secondary · V7, 90 days after 6-weeks of therapy

The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is an assessment scale of upper extremity functional level after stroke. The functional assessment range is an average of 15 sub-items with a range from 0 to 5, with 0 (meaning did not attempt) to 5 (meaning normal). WMFT 90-day - is a measure of the functional assessment change from baseline to 90 days after 6-weeks of therapy.

GroupValue95% CI
VNS + Rehabilitation (1)0.46± 0.40
Control VNS0.16± 0.30

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: Adverse events were collected over the course of the randomized study (enrollment, 4-week baseline, implant, 2-week recover, 6-week therapy, 90-day follow-up) and reported here.. Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

VNS + Rehabilitation (1)
Serious: 5/53 (9%)
Deaths: 0/53
Control VNS
Serious: 3/55 (5%)
Deaths: 0/55

Serious adverse events (6 terms)

ReactionSystemVNS + Rehabilitation (1)Control VNS
FallInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
SeizureNervous system disorders
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)/ chronic kidney disease (CKD)Renal and urinary disorders
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)Renal and urinary disorders
DysphoniaInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
Colinic Diverticular AbscessGastrointestinal disorders
Other adverse events (10 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemVNS + Rehabilitation (1)Control VNS
Coughing/HoarsenessInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
BruiseInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
PainGeneral disorders
Low MoodPsychiatric disorders
DizzinessNervous system disorders
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
FatigueGeneral disorders
Local Throat IrritationInjury, poisoning and procedural complications
HeadacheVascular disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: Fall, Seizure, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)/ chronic kidney disease (CKD), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Dysphonia, Colinic Diverticular Abscess.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03131960 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

This is a pivotal phase study of up to 120 subjects and 15 clinical sites. All subjects are implanted with the Vivistim System® and then randomized to either study treatment or active-control treatment. The randomization will be stratified by age (\<30, \>30) and baseline FMA UE (20 to \<35; \>35 to 50). Study treatment is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) delivered during rehabilitation. Active control treatment is rehabilitation (standard-of-care treatment) with only a minimal amount of VNS at the start of each session intended to support blinding.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischaemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomised, blinded, pivotal, device trial.
    Dawson J, Liu CY, Francisco GE, Cramer SC, et al · · 2021 · cited 361× · PMID 33894832 · DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00475-x
  2. Anatomical and clinical implications of vagal modulation of the spleen.
    Bassi GS, Kanashiro A, Coimbra NC, Terrando N, et al · · 2020 · cited 59× · PMID 32061636 · DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.011
  3. Study protocol for a pivotal randomised study assessing vagus nerve stimulation during rehabilitation for improved upper limb motor function after stroke.
    Kimberley TJ, Prudente CN, Engineer ND, Pierce D, et al · · 2019 · cited 20× · PMID 31903435 · DOI 10.1177/2396987319855306
  4. Efficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Upper Limb Motor Recovery After Stroke. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
    Ramos-Castaneda JA, Barreto-Cortes CF, Losada-Floriano D, Sanabria-Barrera SM, et al · · 2022 · cited 12× · PMID 35847207 · DOI 10.3389/fneur.2022.889953
  5. Long-Term Outcomes of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper Extremity Rehabilitation After Stroke.
    Kimberley TJ, Cramer SC, Wolf SL, Liu C, et al · · 2025 · cited 9× · PMID 40329913 · DOI 10.1161/strokeaha.124.050479
  6. Enhancing Neuroplasticity via vagus nerve stimulation to improve urinary dysfunction after spinal cord injury: a perspective.
    Sargusingh MJ, Addo JJA, Damaser MS, Zimmern P, et al · · 2025 · cited 1× · PMID 40542413 · DOI 10.1186/s42234-025-00178-5
  7. Rehabilitation paired with vagus nerve stimulation for motor function of chronic ischemic stroke patients in China: Study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Repair Study).
    Yang A, Liu Y, Huang H, Sun X, et al · · 2026 · PMID 42023273 · DOI 10.1002/nep3.70025
  8. Vagus nerve stimulation: An update of currently registered clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov.
    Horowitz MA, Sussman JH, Zomalan B, Rendler J, et al · · 2026 · PMID 41783176 · DOI 10.25259/sni_771_2025

Verify or expand the search:

Other recruiting trials for Cerebrovascular Stroke

Currently open trials in the same condition.

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Trials by the same sponsor.

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Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT03131960.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing