# Theranica

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/theranica
Theranica makes Nerivio, a prescription armband that treats migraine with electrical pulses on the upper arm instead of drugs. Headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, with an office in Netanya, Israel.

## In brief

- Nerivio got FDA De Novo authorisation in May 2019; it is now cleared for acute and preventive use from age 8.
- Over one million US treatments; US insurance coverage reached about 130 million lives by February 2026.
- China's NMPA approved Nerivio for acute migraine in adults in August 2025, with partner Pier 88 Health.

## Facts

- Headquarters: US, IL
- Status: private
- Raised: $80M
- Frontiers: [Neurotech](https://technooptimist.io/neurotech.md) (Non-invasive stimulation)

## Programs

- [Nerivio](https://technooptimist.io/neurotech/nerivio.md) (Neurotech): Scaling. FDA-cleared from age 8 for acute and preventive use; >1M US treatments; approved in China 2025

## Technical approach

- **Remote stimulation: Treat head pain from the arm**: Pulses on the upper arm excite skin nerves there; the brain's pain-control centres respond by damping pain signals elsewhere, including migraine.
- **Smartphone control: Wearable run from an app**: A wireless patch is controlled by a phone app that sets intensity and logs treatments, so patients use it at home at the onset of an attack.

## Open problems

- **Who responds and why** (active research): Around a third of patients in the pivotal trial did not get pain relief at two hours; predicting responders is unsolved.

## Latest updates

- **4 Feb 2026**: Theranica says US insurance coverage for Nerivio reaches about 130 million lives. A wave of Blue Cross Blue Shield and other payer policies deeming Nerivio medically necessary brought US coverage to roughly 130 million people, which Theranica says rivals major migraine drug classes. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/theranica-says-us-insurance-coverage-for-nerivio-reaches-about-130-a691eff0.md) · [original source](https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/theranica-announces-u-s-coverage-for-nerivio-reaching-130-million-lives-attaining-payer-scale-comparable-to-leading-migraine-drugs))
- **29 Sep 2025**: China's NMPA approves Nerivio for acute migraine in adults, with partner Pier 88 Health. Pier 88 Health and Theranica announced China's approval of Nerivio, the first remote electrical neuromodulation wearable for migraine approved there. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/china-s-nmpa-approves-nerivio-for-acute-migraine-in-adults-with-partner-75e45e76.md) · [original source](https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/pier-88-health-and-theranica-announce-china-nmpa-approval-of-the-nerivio-ren-wearable-for-acute-treatment-of-migraine))
- **25 Jan 2021**: FDA extends Nerivio to acute migraine treatment in adolescents aged 12 and older. Nerivio's indication was expanded to episodic or chronic migraine in people 12 and older, based on a study published in Headache. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/fda-extends-nerivio-to-acute-migraine-treatment-in-adolescents-aged-12-78a835ac.md) · [original source](https://www.biospace.com/fda-approves-theranica-s-nerivio-for-acute-treatment-of-migraine-in-adolescents))
- **28 May 2019**: FDA grants De Novo authorisation to Theranica's Nerivio Migra, a smartphone-controlled migraine wearable. The FDA authorised Nerivio Migra, a prescription arm patch that delivers electrical pulses to sensory nerves for acute migraine, used at home at the onset of headache or aura. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/fda-grants-de-novo-authorisation-to-theranica-s-nerivio-migra-a-4fcbc970.md) · [original source](https://www.medtechdive.com/news/neuromodulation-patch-for-migraine-gains-de-novo-nod/555620/))

## Funding

| Date | Round | Amount | Post-money | Leads |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 29 Aug 2022 | Series C (first close) | $45M |   | New Rhein Healthcare Investors |
| May 2019 | Series B | $35M |   | aMoon |

## Partners, customers and investors

- Pier 88 Health (partner): Partner for Nerivio in Greater China; announced NMPA approval together in September 2025.
- aMoon (investor): Led the $35M Series B.
- Lightspeed Venture Partners (investor)
- New Rhein Healthcare Investors (investor): Led the 2022 Series C.

## People

- Alon Ironi, CEO and Co-Founder
- Shimon Eckhouse, Chairman and Co-Founder

---

The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt).
Data API (JSON, realtime stream): https://technooptimist.io/developers. People read 5 pages free, then Reader $10/month; these Markdown pages are open to agents.