The Acclaim® Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant is differentiated from existing cochlear implants and may offer new option for hearing loss patients

WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minnesota, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Envoy Medical®, Inc. (“Envoy Medical”) (NASDAQ: “COCH”), a hearing health company focused on fully implanted hearing systems, today announces that its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for its pivotal study of the Acclaim® Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Acclaim® technology includes an implanted sensor designed to leverage the natural anatomy of the ear to capture sound, making it different from existing cochlear implants on the market.

“Receiving FDA approval to initiate this pivotal study marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bring this breakthrough hearing device to more people with severe to profound hearing loss,” said Brent Lucas CEO of Envoy Medical. “Currently, it is estimated that roughly 95% of patients with significant hearing loss who could benefit from a cochlear implant have not received one. We believe the differences in our device’s design provide an opportunity to pursue this important therapy in a more discrete manner and offer candidates a welcomed new option that may get more patients to embrace the potential benefits of a cochlear implant.”

The Company plans to select some of the top cochlear implant institutions in the U.S. as investigational sites for the study. As IRB approvals are obtained, the Company will share information on the investigational sites for interested patients.

“The excitement around the Acclaim® device is palpable, and we have been extremely humbled by the number of top-tier cochlear implant programs that want to participate in this study,” said Lucas. “While we are not able to select every site for this study, we believe that this excitement and significant interest across the country is a strong signal of our potential ability to penetrate the market should we be successful in gaining commercial approval.”

The FDA approved the IDE application as a staged clinical study. This allows preliminary clinical data to be gathered on a subset of patients prior to expanding enrollment to the full subject cohort. As with any investigational device, approval of an IDE application does not ensure that the results of the investigation will provide a reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness or assure a determination of approval for a premarket submission.

Lucas continued, “The last two weeks demonstrate our passionate commitment to innovation, competition, and change in the hearing industry. Last week marked the American Medical Association’s approval of new CPT codes for totally implantable active middle ear implants, which opens new opportunities for our already FDA-approved Esteem® device. This week, we are celebrating IDE approval to start a pivotal study for our investigational Acclaim® device. Two devices serving two patient populations, both moving the hearing industry forward. We are building a company that is positioning itself to be a market segment leader in the hearing industry. We are excited about what the future holds for Envoy Medical.”

About the Fully Implanted Acclaim® Cochlear Implant

We believe the fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant (“Acclaim CI”) is a first-of-its-kind hearing device. Envoy Medical’s fully implanted technology includes a sensor designed to leverage the natural anatomy of the ear instead of a microphone to capture sound.

The Acclaim CI is designed to address severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss that is not adequately addressed by hearing aids. The Acclaim CI is expected to be indicated for adults who have been deemed adequate candidates by a qualified physician.

The Acclaim Cochlear Implant received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.

CAUTION The fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant is an investigational device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use.

About the Esteem® Fully Implanted Active Middle Ear Implant (FI-AMEI)

The Esteem fully implanted active middle ear implant (FI-AMEI) is the only FDA-approved, fully implanted* hearing device for adults diagnosed with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss allowing for 24/7 hearing capability using the ear’s natural anatomy. The Esteem FI-AMEI hearing implant is invisible and requires no externally worn components and nothing is placed in the ear canal for it to function. Unlike hearing aids, you never put it on or take it off. You can’t lose it. You don’t clean it. The Esteem FI-AMEI hearing implant offers true 24/7 hearing.

*Once activated, the external Esteem FI-AMEI Personal Programmer is not required for daily use.

Important safety information for the Esteem FI-AMEI can be found at: https://www.envoymedical.com/safety-information.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Copies of the documents filed by Envoy Medical with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of Envoy Medical concerning the outlook for its business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments; the Acclaim CI being the first to market fully implanted cochlear implant, the timing of IRB approvals, site activations, enrollment, and beginning of Envoy Medical’s clinical trial, the timing of and FDA’s position related to expanding the clinical trial to full cohort, the result of the clinical trial, the timing and results of clinical trials of the Acclaim CI, and the participation of any institution in such trials; the safety, performance, and market acceptance of the Acclaim CI; and any information concerning possible or assumed future operations of Envoy Medical. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect Envoy Medical’s current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause its actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Envoy Medical does not guarantee that the events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to changes in the market price of shares of Envoy Medical’s Class A Common Stock; changes in or removal of Envoy Medical’s shares inclusion in any index; Envoy Medical’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors; unpredictability in the medical device industry, the regulatory process to approve medical devices, and the clinical development process of Envoy Medical products; competition in the medical device industry, and the failure to introduce new products and services in a timely manner or at competitive prices to compete successfully against competitors; disruptions in relationships with Envoy Medical’s suppliers, or disruptions in Envoy Medical’s own production capabilities for some of the key components and materials of its products; changes in the need for capital and the availability of financing and capital to fund these needs; changes in interest rates or rates of inflation; legal, regulatory and other proceedings could be costly and time-consuming to defend; changes in applicable laws or regulations, or the application thereof on Envoy Medical; a loss of any of Envoy Medical’s key intellectual property rights or failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights; the effects of catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other international conflicts; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Envoy Medical on April 1, 2024, and in other reports Envoy Medical files, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or Envoy Medical’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. While forward-looking statements reflect Envoy Medical’s good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Envoy Medical disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to Envoy Medical. 

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Investor Contact:
CORE IR
516-222-2560
investorrelations@envoymedical.com