MedRhythms

MedRhythms develops next-generation neurotherapeutics intended to improve walking, mobility and related functional outcomes in people with neurologic injury and disease. Its products are built on rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), an evidence-based intervention in which music is used to drive auditory-motor entrainment — synchronization of the auditory and motor regions of the brain — to produce therapeutic benefit. The company's platform combines sensors that capture real-time gait data, software and clinical algorithms, and personalized musical stimuli delivered through headphones; the algorithms continuously assess a user's entrainment and walking quality and adjust the auditory stimulus toward a defined clinical goal.

The underlying software platform, EntrainRx, standardizes application development, data capture, processing, storage and rhythmic stimulus delivery so that new neurotherapeutics can be designed, tested and iterated across conditions. MedRhythms states two products are available by prescription nationwide: InTandem, for ambulatory adults with stroke walking impairments, and MOVIVE, for people with Parkinson's disease. Its disclosed pipeline includes MR-001 (stroke, pivotal trial), MR-005 (Parkinson's disease, feasibility), MR-004 (multiple sclerosis, feasibility), MR-010 (post-acute stroke, feasibility), MR-012 (functional neurological disorder, feasibility), MR-009 (aging in place, design and proof of concept) and MR-C-001 (cognition, design and proof of concept).

A related in-person services arm, MedRhythms Therapy, delivers Neurologic Music Therapy in outpatient, in-home, community and telehealth settings in partnership with rehabilitation hospitals including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and HHM JFK Johnson Rehabilitation, addressing populations such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and neurodegenerative disease.

Founding story

MedRhythms was founded in 2015. Co-founder and CEO Brian Harris, a board-certified Neurologic Music Therapist and one of approximately 350 professionals globally with advanced training in the clinical application of neuroscience and music, started MedRhythms as a Neurologic Music Therapy practice at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. In 2017, in response to growing demand from people with neurologic gait disorders and the limited number of trained clinicians, the company identified technology as a more scalable way to deliver the intervention. Owen McCarthy is the other co-founder.

Business model

MedRhythms develops prescription digital therapeutics regulated as medical devices, taking products through feasibility studies, pivotal trials and regulatory clearance before commercialization. Its devices are made available to patients by prescription. The company also operates an in-person Neurologic Music Therapy service delivered in partnership with rehabilitation hospitals across outpatient, in-home, community and telehealth settings.

Products are distributed on a prescription basis to patients, alongside clinician-delivered Neurologic Music Therapy services provided through hospital partnerships.

Traction

Two devices, InTandem for stroke and MOVIVE for Parkinson's disease, are available by prescription nationwide. The chronic stroke product holds FDA breakthrough device designation and has been evaluated in a multi-site randomized controlled trial. MedRhythms Therapy reported passing 10,000 treatment hours, and the company cites over 30,000 hours of direct patient care delivered using RAS and related music interventions.

Latest developments

MedRhythms markets InTandem for stroke walking impairment and MOVIVE for Parkinson's disease as prescription products available nationwide, while advancing feasibility-stage programs in multiple sclerosis, post-acute stroke and functional neurological disorder and earlier-stage programs in aging in place and cognition.