MindMaze Healthcare, a digital neurotherapeutics company, is expanding its geographical footprint to patients in Latin America, the Middle East, Spain and Switzerland through a series of new partnerships.

The company has inked deals with Peruvian medical biotech company Surgicorp, Saudi Arabian medical company Alkholi, Spanish neurorehabilitation clinic Guttmann Barcelona and Swedish rehabilitation center Swiss Rehabilitation.

“Thanks to distributors and partners, we can reach more patients faster, so that people with neurological diseases all around the world can benefit first-hand from these proven engaging and immersive therapies, including from the comfort of their own home,” Jean-Marc Wismer, MindMaze’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.

“The partnerships collectively expand MindMaze’s international footprint, which should further solidify our leadership in brain health while contributing to our top-line growth over the coming year and beyond.”

MindMaze creates gamified digital neurotherapeutics for patients with neurological injuries and conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Its FDA-cleared MindMotion platform works to help patients regain the functionality of their arms through movement-tracking games.

WHY THIS MATTERS

In 2016, neurological disorders were the global leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), the measure of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death, according to Lancet Neurology. That year, neurological disorders were responsible for 276 million DALYs and were also the second leading cause of death worldwide.

The burden of these disorders will continue to increase as populations around the globe both grow and age. The situation will require new prevention and treatment strategies, according to the report.

“Globally, the burden of neurological disorders, as measured by the absolute number of DALYs, continues to increase,” the report’s authors said. “As populations are growing and aging, and the prevalence of major disabling neurological disorders steeply increases with age, governments will face increasing demand for treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for neurological disorders.”

THE LARGER TREND

The at-home version of MindMaze’s MindMotion platform received FDA clearance in 2018, about a year after it got the green light for its hospital-based model. Also that year, the company acquired fellow neuro-rehabilitation tech company Neuro Motor Innovations Corporation.

Also in the neurotherapeutic space is Flint, which received $1.72 million in funding in 2019 for its rehabilitation platform.