| Headquarters | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Key Product | SonoCloud |
| Technology | Implantable ultrasound for BBB opening |
CarThera is a French medical technology company pioneering implantable focused ultrasound devices for repeated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening. The company's flagship SonoCloud platform enables clinicians to temporarily disrupt the BBB in a controlled, repeatable manner, enhancing drug delivery to the central nervous system for treatment of brain tumors and neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease[1].
Unlike external focused ultrasound systems that require precise positioning for each treatment session, SonoCloud is implanted cranium, allowing for multiple treatments without repositioning — a key advantage for chronic conditions like AD that may require ongoing therapeutic delivery.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Dr. Alexandre Carpentier |
| Key Product | SonoCloud |
| Technology | Implantable focused ultrasound emitter |
| Stage | Phase I/II clinical trials |
The SonoCloud system consists of:
The device operates through the same principle as external FUS[2]:
| Feature | External FUS (Insightec) | SonoCloud (CarThera) |
|---|---|---|
| Invasiveness | Non-invasive | Minimally invasive (implant) |
| Repeat treatments | Requires repositioning | Always in position |
| Treatment frequency | Limited by logistics | Can be frequent |
| Cost per treatment | High | Lower after implantation |
| Target precision | Excellent | Excellent |
The most advanced clinical program is for glioblastoma:
CarThera is expanding into AD applications:
| Trial | Indication | Phase | Status | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT02557028 | Glioblastoma | Phase I | Completed | Safe BBB opening; enhanced drug delivery |
| NCT0374406 | Glioblastoma | Phase I/II | Active | Evaluating efficacy endpoints |
| - | AD | Planning | Preclinical | - |
| Company | Device | Approach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarThera | SonoCloud | Implantable | Phase I/II |
| Insightec | ExAblate Neuro | External | Phase I/II for BBB |
| NaviFUS | Research system | External | Preclinical |
| BrainSonix | FUS device | External | Discovery |
Carpentier A, Canney M, Vignot A, et al. Clinical trial of blood-brain barrier disruption by pulsed ultrasound. Sci Transl Med. 2016. ↩︎ ↩︎