Tactile Medical's Flexitouch Plus Shows Significant Benefits in Treating Head and Neck Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Tactile Systems Technology announced new clinical data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting demonstrating significant clinical and quality-of-life benefits associated with using Flexitouch Plus in treating head and neck cancer-related lymphedema. The data highlights the challenges in accessing current modalities for managing lymphedema, including therapist-guided treatment and self-care. The study found that patients face substantial barriers to accessing these modalities, limiting the number of patients receiving treatment and delaying therapy initiation.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 3, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (“Tactile Medical”) announced new clinical data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting that demonstrates significant clinical and quality-of-life benefits associated with using Flexitouch Plus in treating head and neck cancer-related lymphedema [1].

The study, conducted by Tactile Medical, examined the effectiveness of Flexitouch Plus, an advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD), versus usual care in treating lymphedema among head and neck cancer survivors. The two-month analysis featured data from a six-month clinical trial involving 236 subjects across 10 academic and community sites, representing the largest prospective, randomized controlled study on this patient group ever conducted in the United States [1].

The data showed that usual care and APCD are similarly effective treatment modalities for head and neck lymphedema. However, the APCD group demonstrated significant advantages in several areas. APCD participants received their device in 17.9 days compared to 29.8 days for usual care participants. Additionally, 94.9% of APCD participants received therapist-guided lymphedema treatment (TGLT) compared to only 71% of usual care participants. APCD participants also exhibited significant reductions in swelling and improvements in quality of life [1].

The findings suggest that Flexitouch Plus offers a feasible alternative to traditional lymphedema treatment modalities. This is particularly significant given the substantial barriers patients face in accessing current modalities, which limits the number of patients receiving treatment and delays therapy initiation [1].

Tactile Medical is committed to elevating lymphedema therapy with meaningful evidence generation. The early results of the Flexitouch Plus trial validate the device as an effective option for treating head and neck cancer-related lymphedema. The company expects the six-month results to support more expansive reimbursement coverage by commercial payers, inform clinical guidelines, and drive broader patient and provider awareness, ultimately improving access to care [1].

References:

[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/03/3092660/0/en/New-Data-Demonstrates-Significant-Clinical-and-Quality-of-Life-Benefits-of-Flexitouch-Plus-in-Treating-Lymphedema-Among-Head-and-Neck-Cancer-Survivors.html