2024 Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan, the Asia-Pacific's largest medtech event, was held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from December 5th to December 8th. With support from the Department of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre (MIRDC) showcased its Autonomous Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Treatment System during the exhibition period. This innovative technology offers a solution for bipolar disorder induced by major depressive disorder (MDD). Its innovative probe design and adjustable pulse host system simultaneously stimulate multiple brain areas, aligning with the clinical trend of addressing various mental illnesses simultaneously, reducing treatment time by 70%, and enhancing overall treatment efficiency. On the opening day of the exhibition (December 5th), MIRDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for technical cooperation with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and NoetherTech Company from the United States. This collaboration aims to integrate the NHRI's research on the mechanism of action in animal experiments and as well as conduct exchanges on NoetherTech's treatment prescription technology. The partners will work together in the future to enhance their competitiveness in the global medical market, forming a mutually beneficial situation.
Chien-Cheng Tai, Senior Technical Specialist of the Department of Industrial Technology, MOEA, said that according to statistics from the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of individuals with mental illnesses in Taiwan has risen from 1.688 million in 2001 to 2.928 million in 2021. Approximately 8.9% of people nationwide exhibit potential symptoms of depression, equating to about 2 million individuals. Among these, roughly 5.2%, or approximately 1.25 million people, are classified as severely depressed. A non-invasive neuromodulation technique used to treat severe depression, rTMS employs repetitive electromagnetic fields generated by coils to stimulate brain areas and neural circuits associated with depression symptoms, aiming to improve clinical symptoms. The technological advancement of rTMS products and the growing demand for long-term, repeated treatment of physical and mental health conditions have resulted in the expansion of the economic scale of high-visibility medical treatments. This growth has been driven by introducing commercialized products into the market and integrating therapeutic physiological signals for the brain, which have helped establish treatment norms. The new output value is estimated to reach approximately NT$740 million, with an average annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.8%.
Yung-Hsiang Lai, President of MIRDC, stated that to advance precision medicine, MIRDC has developed a transcranial magnetic stimulation system featuring key modular technologies such as magnetic control of multi-axis channel coils, high-speed pulse output, and electric field visualization navigation. The system has completed preclinical safety and functional testing. MIRDC is collaborating with NHRI to conduct tests on rats and pigs to verify the safety and mechanisms of transcranial magnetic stimulation in living organisms. Additionally, MIRDC is partnering with NoetherTech to conduct exchanges on Electromagnetic Brain Pulsing Treatment (EMBP™) prescription treatment technology, aiming to enhance feasibility of the transcranial magnetic stimulation system in terms of the clinical application.
NoetherTech's EMBP™ prescription treatment technology has been introduced to the US Air Force and top academic medical centers and medical schools for use in spatial disorientation, ADHD, and post-pandemic stress disorder-related mental illnesses. The treatment results are quite effective. Through the signing of this MOU with NHRI and NoetherTech, NoetherTech will allow MIRDC to connect to the Brain Treatment Center (BTC) and the Newport Brain Research Laboratory (NBRL) in the United States. In the future, MIRDC will also connect with NoetherTech's contracted clinics in Taiwan that specialize in EMBP™. The aim of the cooperation is to transform the digital pulse therapy market. Dr. Jin from the Brain Health Leadership Foundation was invited to present the EMBP™ prescription treatment technology. In addition, Lue-De Liao, Deputy Director of Biomedical Engineering & Nanomedicine of NHRI shared insights on the use of the autonomous high-speed pulse rTMS treatment system for addiction recovery. This collaborative effort will enhance the technological development and medical capabilities of transcranial magnetic stimulation systems in Taiwan, ultimately strengthening the overall clinical capabilities of these systems. In the future, MIRDC, NHRI, and NoetherTech will work together to expand their presence in the international medical market, create win-win situations for all parties, and increase the global visibility of Taiwan's healthcare services and medical equipment.