Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Disruptive Advance in Science

By Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Fact checked by Shenaz Bagha

On July 30, the FDA approved the first device of its kind — a vagal nerve stimulator for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis whose disease is not adequately controlled by existing therapies, including biologics.

This month’s Healio Exclusive, in which I had the privilege of joining with a distinguished group of rheumatology consultants — including Andrew J. Holman, MD; Vibeke Strand, MD, FACP, MACR; and John R.P. Tesser, MD, FACP, MACR — also features Kevin J. Tracey, MD, whose discoveries mapped the inflammatory reflex and reshaped our understanding of brain-immune communication that made this therapy possible.