Apnex Medical, Inc. Names Chas McKhann President, Chief Executive Officer

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Apnex Medical, Inc., a pioneer in developing novel medical device treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA, today announced the appointment of Charles (Chas) S. McKhann as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100602/CG13931)

"In this dynamic healthcare environment, successfully bringing novel therapies to market requires strong leadership," said Mike Berman, Chairman, Apnex Medical. "Chas continues this tradition at Apnex and brings a comprehensive vision for the technical, clinical, and commercial activities that will be required to deliver a successful therapy for patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea."  

Apnex Founder and Executive Director, Robert Atkinson, added, "We have an incredibly successful team, an impressive technology, and promising initial clinical results. We are excited to have Chas join Apnex, and we look forward to continued success under his leadership."

Mr. McKhann has extensive experience in healthcare, especially medical devices. Prior to joining Apnex, he was Worldwide Vice President of Marketing for the Cardiac Rhythm Management division of Boston Scientific. He previously worked at Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he was instrumental in the worldwide launch of the CYPHER® Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent, the first drug eluting stent on the market. Prior to these positions, Mr. McKhann worked as a consultant in the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products practice of McKinsey & Company. Mr. McKhann holds both an undergraduate degree and Masters of Business Administration degree from Stanford University.

"Apnex Medical is poised to have a tremendous, positive impact on the lives of patients with OSA, and I'm pleased to be joining this dynamic team," Mr. McKhann said. "Initial clinical results for the Apnex Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS™) therapy, which were presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society, continue to give us confidence that we are on the right track with a new treatment for OSA that has the potential to be safe, effective, and well-tolerated by patients, allowing them to sleep better and live healthier lives."

About Apnex Medical and HGNS System

Apnex Medical was founded in 2006 with a mission to pioneer medical innovations to improve the health of people with sleep disordered breathing. The company has developed a proprietary medical device for the treatment of OSA.

The Apnex Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) System is an implanted medical device that activates an upper airway muscle to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep. It is fully automatic and can be implanted during a simple surgical procedure. After it is implanted, the device is programmed to meet the unique needs of each patient. The device automatically turns on when the patient is sleeping and turns off when the patient is awake. Apnex Medical is funded by a world class group of investors including Domain Associates, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Polaris Venture Partners, and Mike Berman.

About OSA

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 100 million people worldwide have OSA. It most often occurs when the airway muscles fail to keep the airway open during sleep. Untreated OSA increases the risk of death; as well as stroke, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure and diabetes. It causes fragmented sleep, which leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, resulting in an increased risk of accidents and lost productivity. Current OSA treatments are not always successful or well-tolerated. The Apnex HGNS System is designed to provide an alternative treatment for OSA that addresses these problems.

About US Clinical Study

The Apnex HGNS System is currently being evaluated in a clinical study in the United States. The overall purpose of the study is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the HGNS system in treating OSA. Additional information on the HGNS System and US clinical study is available on the Apnex Medical website at www.apnexmedical.com. There is a sign-up option for anyone interested in receiving Apnex Medical news updates or being provided more information on the clinical study.

CAUTION: The Apnex HGNS System is an investigational device and is limited by Federal Law to investigational use.

FOR CLINICAL TRIAL USE ONLY.

Apnex Medical and HGNS are trademarks of Apnex Medical, Inc.

© Apnex Medical, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Apnex Medical, Inc.