Vagus Nerve Stimulation Device Improves Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Symptoms
People with RA have dysregulated immune pathways, and a new device implanted in the neck seeks to regulate immune response by stimulating the vagus nerve (see page 3). This randomized trial published in Nature Medicine January 2026 included 242 people who had not responded to or could not tolerate traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Participants received the setpoint device or a sham surgery. The primary measure was the American College of Rheumatology 20 percent (ACR20) response, which considers a greater than 20 percent improvement in swollen joints, tender joints and other key areas to determine if a treatment is effective. At three months, ACR20 responses occurred in 24% of those receiving the sham surgery and 35% of those receiving the setpoint device. At six and 12 months after receiving a setpoint device, 50% and 53% of participants had an ACR20 response, respectively.
