Salvia and the EIC Accelerator: Implants Against Severe Headache

Salvia BioElectronics, founded in Eindhoven by chief executive Hubert Martens, makes MySalvia, a minimally invasive, ultra-thin implant that stimulates nerves at the front and back of the head to prevent headache attacks. The EIC Accelerator granted €2,499,999 towards a total cost of €3,727,219 for ReLife, "a new life for people with severe disabling cluster headache", which runs from February 2024 to January 2027, according to CORDIS. The project report sets two goals: run the pivotal clinical study in refractory chronic cluster headache, and prepare and submit the market approval application based on it, according to CORDIS.

In May 2025 Salvia closed a $60 million (€53 million) Series B led by Innovation Industries with Invest-NL and the EIC Fund, to complete clinical development and prepare the launch of MySalvia for chronic migraine in the US, Europe and Australia, according to Salvia. Its registered trials on ClinicalTrials.gov show the RECLAIM migraine study with 110 patients planned and a US pivotal migraine trial of 150 patients due to start in December 2026. For cluster headache, the registry lists a five-patient first-in-human study in Australia and RESPONSE-II, a ten-patient study in the Netherlands that began in April 2026.

Where Salvia Stands Now

In 2026 Salvia appointed a vice president for US commercial strategy and a US medical technology executive, Jill Schiaparelli, as chair, according to its newsroom. Its website states that MySalvia is being evaluated in clinical studies and has not been approved. The company focuses its public messaging on chronic migraine, which it describes as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

The Technology: Stimulating Two Nerve Groups at Once

Salvia's implant sits under the skin and stimulates both the supraorbital nerves at the front of the head and the occipital nerves at the back, which is what the EIC project calls simultaneous stimulation at the front and back. The CORDIS summary targets patients with refractory chronic cluster headache. The project report says success there would earn the trust of neurologists who also treat refractory chronic migraine.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The project runs until January 2027, so it is too early to judge it. But with four months left, no pivotal cluster headache study appears in the trial registry, and no market application for cluster headache has been announced. Salvia's cluster headache work so far is two small studies; its pivotal effort is in migraine, with cluster headache listed among the conditions of the planned US trial.

1. Pivotal cluster headache studyNot registered10-patient study instead.
2. Market applicationNot announcedPending.
3. Follow-on investmentDelivered$60M Series B.
4. Migraine programmeAdvancingUS pivotal planned.

The Money

The $60 million Series B dwarfs the EIC grant. The EIC Fund's share has not been disclosed. Salvia is private and its accounts were not accessible in free sources.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

The EIC chose to fund a treatment for people with refractory chronic cluster headache, who the project summary describes as severely disabled. Salvia's Series B and largest trials are aimed at chronic migraine, though its planned US pivotal trial also lists cluster headache among its conditions.

The Verdict

Salvia BioElectronics and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.