Erchonia Receives FDA Clearance for Product to Relieve Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Erchonia Corporation, a manufacturer and developer of low level laser therapy technology (3LT), has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance to market its FX 635 low level laser for the temporary relief of chronic, nociceptive musculoskeletal pain.
 
Erchonia received FDA clearance after submitting results from double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials with 255 patients. Those treated with the FX 635 documented a 49 percent average pain reduction post treatment protocol. No other therapies were used in conjunction with the laser treatment. 
 
For comparison, the SPACE randomized clinical trial¹ published in JAMA 2018 compared using opioids and non-opioids to treat overall chronic musculoskeletal pain. In the study, 119 patients were treated with opioids, and 119 patients were treated with non-opioids. At three months, results showed a reduction in pain of only 20 percent with opioids and 26 percent with non-opioids, mainly NSAIDS. This study also implemented many adjunctive therapies such as exercise, physical therapy and chiropractic care. 
 
“While our previous clearances from the FDA have already set us apart from the rest of the therapeutic laser industry, until now, they have all been limited to specific areas of the body,” commented Charlie Shanks, vice president of Erchonia. “Now Erchonia has the only whole-body indication based on Level 1 clinical data. Based on these results, the fact that there are no known negative side effects, and that it’s non-addictive, our low-level laser technology should be considered first. It’s more effective than opioids or NSAIDS when treating chronic musculoskeletal pain when you compare the SPACE study results with those Erchonia submitted to the FDA.” 
 
Although this new 510(k) is not limited to one specific area of the body, market clearance was also based on Erchonia’s previous Level 1 blinded and controlled clinical trials on chronic neck and shoulder pain in 2002; plantar fasciitis, or heel pain, in 2014; and low back pain in 2018. Erchonia’s other 510(k) market clearances for post-surgical pain in 2004 and 2008 were not part of this FDA submission as they were acute pain studies, not chronic pain. 
 
Based in Melbourne, Florida, family-owned Erchonia manufactures and develops low level laser therapy technology (3LT). From humble beginnings in a garage in 1996, Erchonia today develops and sells the most advanced, non-invasive 3LT medical equipment on the market in more than 50 countries. In fact, Erchonia first low-level laser market clearance in 2002 prompted the FDA to create a new device category: NHN Biostimulation lasers. With 15 different market clearances from the FDA, Erchonia remains committed to effective, research-based 3LT solutions for a wide variety of conditions—from managing chronic pain to promoting fat loss.

Reference
¹ Krebs EE, Gravely A, Nugent S, et al. “Effect of opioid vs nonopioid medications on pain-related function in patients with chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain: The SPACE randomized clinical trial.” JAMA 2018.