Mobia Medical Announces Addition of Paired VNS to Updated AHA Stroke Guidelines
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobia Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOBI), a medical device company redefining stroke recovery for survivors living with life-altering motor impairments, today announced that implantable paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been recognized in the 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Guideline From the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA), published August 27, 2026 in Stroke as a treatment option to improve upper-limb function and impairment for chronic stroke survivors.
The new guideline states that VNS paired with high-dose task-specific training may be considered to improve upper-limb function and impairment for eligible patients. Mobia Medical’s Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System is the only FDA-approved system that delivers this treatment approach.
“Recognition of paired VNS in the guideline for stroke recovery is a meaningful validation of the impact of our technology, which is grounded in our evidence-based approach to long-term stroke recovery,” said Richard Foust, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mobia Medical. “This is an important step in our mission to improve the standard of care for stroke survivors, and we're committed to continuing to build the evidence base that supports it.”
The updated AHA guideline supports several core principles of Mobia Medical’s approach to stroke recovery, including:
- The importance of continuity of care with ongoing functional assessments for at least one year
- The recognition of high-dose, task-specific therapy as a core component of effective stroke therapy
- The evaluation of patient-specific functional outcomes concurrent with standardized measures of impairment and function
“It’s impactful to see paired VNS included in the new guideline. As a stroke neurologist, I've noticed that most of our advancements have focused on the hyperacute treatment of stroke, without many options for patients in the chronic phase with persistent motor deficits,” said David Z. Rose, M.D., Professor of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and Co-director of the Neurocardiac Program at Tampa General Hospital. “To offer an evidence-based technology like paired VNS that supports recovery during the chronic phase, even years later, has changed how we view the continuum of stroke care at our hospital and at many centers nationwide.”
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of long-term disability in the United States. With approximately 800,000 strokes occurring annually and roughly 10 million stroke survivors living in the country today, this represents a growing patient population as stroke survival rates improve due to advancements in acute intervention.1,2 However, upper-limb motor impairment is among the most common and disabling long-term consequences of stroke, and patients often plateau in their recovery around the onset of the chronic phase, or six months post-stroke. Treatment options to address these lasting deficits have historically been limited.
References
[1] Martin, Seth S., et al. "2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data from the American Heart Association." Circulation 151.8 (2025): e41-e660. [2] Waziry, Reem, et al. "Time Trends in Survival Following First Hemorrhagic or Ischemic Stroke Between 1991 and 2015 in the Rotterdam study." Stroke 51.3 (2020): 824-829.
About Mobia Medical, Inc.
Mobia Medical, Inc. is a medical device company redefining stroke recovery for survivors living with life-altering motor impairments. The Company’s Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System is the first and only clinically validated, FDA-approved implantable solution designed to improve upper limb function in chronic ischemic stroke survivors with moderate to severe upper extremity impairments. Therapy with the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System combines targeted vagus nerve stimulation with functional movement to promote neuroplasticity and drive meaningful improvements in motor function. Mobia Medical is mobilizing patients, providers, and care partners to establish a better way forward in stroke care.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential effect of the 2026 AHA and ASA guideline on clinical practice and on adoption of Vivistim Therapy, Mobia Medical's plans for continued clinical and real-world evidence generation, and Mobia Medical’s goal of changing the standard of care in stroke recovery. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Mobia Medical cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Information in this press release may also include statements relating to past performance, which should not be regarded as a reliable indicator of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions together with projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in Mobia Medical’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Mobia Medical undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. Mobia Medical may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The 2026 AHA and ASA guideline addresses treatment approaches and does not endorse any product or manufacturer.
Investor Relations Contact
Louisa Smith
Gilmartin Group, LLC
investors@mobia.com
Media Inquiries Contact
Terri Clevenger
tclevenger@waterhousebrands.com
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