Migraines Are Not Just Headaches with Hubert Martens

In this episode of the Crux of Neuro, Liz Moyles is joined by Hubert Martens, physicist-turned-entrepreneur, co-founder of Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation (acquired by Medtronic for ~$200M), and now CEO of Salvia BioElectronics. Hubert shares how a career that started with double-layer DVD technology at Philips led him to building a patient-centred neuromodulation implant for treatment-resistant migraine and what 25 years of hard-won startup experience has taught him about doing it right.Key TopicsFrom Philips R&D to Medtronic acquisition: Hubert's path into neuromodulationWhy chronic migraine is a neurological disorder, not just a headacheThe MySalvia system: how a battery-free implant targets treatment-resistant migraineFDA Breakthrough Device Designation: what it means in practiceWhy reimbursement strategy must start before you design the productBuilding patient-centricity into company culture from day oneThe emotional reality of being a medtech founder and who to call when it gets hardRelated InsightsThe clinical case for neuromodulation in migraine: decades of physician-led experimentationPositioning for payers: building economic and clinical evidence in parallel with regulatory approvalHow patient advocacy drives market adoption for novel implantable therapiesThe 14–17 year medtech funding gap and why consistent de-risking milestones matter more than everCore ChallengesTreatment-resistant migraine patients, those who have failed CGRP inhibitors and Botox, have no meaningful therapeutic option. The disease progressively worsens, and its invisibility compounds the psychological burden: isolation, shame, and the constant fear of the next attack.Bringing a novel implantable neuromodulation system to market requires simultaneous mastery of regulatory strategy, reimbursement landscape, and clinical evidence design, areas most early-stage founders engage too late, at significant cost.Tune in now to hear how Hubert Martens is building the therapy that treatment-resistant migraine patients have been waiting for and the hard lessons from three decades in neuromodulation that shaped how he's doing it.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠click here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP plc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTP.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠