Manus Neurodynamica Limited
Writing instrument giant STABILO to make Manus’ diagnostic pen
Edinburgh, UK – 18th January 2020: MANUS Neurodynamica Limited (“Manus”), which develops and markets products and technologies for neuromotor assessment, announces a five-year manufacturing and supply agreement with STABILO International GmbH (“STABILO”) for its digital pen.
STABILO will manufacture the pens and ensure that they conform to all relevant European standards for consumer electronics. While the commercial terms of the agreement are confidential, it does provide for exclusivity in the field of neuromotor impairment.
Manus’ product is a unique and patented diagnostic system which combines sensor technologies built into a digital pen with associated proprietary analytical software to capture and analyse minute limb and hand movements. These measurements provide objective information about movement abnormalities. The system is CE marked as a Class 1 medical device to support the diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson’s Disease.
The Company, based in Edinburgh, was founded in 2008 and is a spin-out based on Dr Rutger Zietsma’s work in the area of neuroscience and handwriting with Prof Bernard Conway at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Rutger Zietsma, CEO of Manus Neurodynamica, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured such an internationally recognised manufacturer of writing instruments as our supplier of the digital pen element of the Manus diagnostic system. This agreement comes at the end of a joint development programme in which STABILO brought its expertise in hardware, firmware and ergonomics to the development of a novel medical device. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”
Peter Kämpf, Director of Research and Development, Schwan-Stabilo, said: “Our involvement in the Manus project has brought our experience of designing and developing writing instruments into the field of regulated medical devices. This novel product can potentially revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of neuromotor diseases, and we are excited to be involved in its development and in helping bring it to market.”
Enquiries
Manus Neurodynamica Ltd | +44 131 563 5465 or +44 7870 100 160 |
Dr Rutger Zietsma, CEO | r.c.zietsma@manusneuro.com |
Schwan-Stabilo | +49 911 567 1210 |
Dr Peter Kämpf, Director of Research and Development | peter.kaempf@stabilo.com |
Walbrook PR (PR advisors to Manus) | +44 20 7933 8780 or lifesciences@walbrookpr.com |
Lianne Cawthorne / Anna Dunphy | +44 7584 391 303 / +44 7876 741 001 |
Notes to Editors
About Manus Neurodynamica – www.manusneuro.com
Dr Rutger Zietsma founded Manus in August 2008. The Company’s main activity is designing, patenting and marketing innovative technologies used in medical devices and personal care products which have the capability to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
Its principal product is a sensory pen designed for use in the diagnosis and monitoring of neuromotor impairments. The pen particularly focuses on patients with Parkinson’s disease and uses limb and hand motion to diagnose patients quickly and non-invasively. It has applications across not just diagnosis but also screening, monitoring, rehabilitation and drug development for a number of different movement disorders.
In June 2016 Manus entered into a distribution agreement for its diagnostic system with Cambridge Cognition Holdings PLC (LSE: COG). The agreement provides Cambridge Cognition with sole rights to market the pen in academic research, pharmaceutical clinical trials and occupational health markets.
About NeuroMotor, Pen
NeuroMotor Pen™ (NMP) is a unique and patented system that combines sensor technologies built into a digital pen with software and an analytical engine with Decision Support System. The interface enables users to record non-invasively and analyse parameters of minute limb and hand motion. This enables quantification of fine motor skill. These parameters are used as ‘digital biomarkers’ to provide objective information about movement abnormalities. NMP can be used to support diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson’s Disease and other neuromotor impairments. It has the potential to be a quick, inexpensive, non-invasive, and objective aid to diagnosis.
About STABILO International GmbH – www.schwan-stabilo.com
STABILO International, a member of the Schwan-Stabilo Group, is one of the leading manufacturers of writing instruments in Europe and continues to set standards for writing, colouring, drawing and highlighting – such as with the STABILO BOSS, with over 2 billion highlighters sold worldwide.
The group, headquartered in Heroldsberg, Germany, was founded in 1855 and remains in the private ownership of the family.