Breathe Technologies, Inc. Named Winner Of The 2015 Red Herring Top 100 North America Award

IRVINE, Calif., June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Breathe Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of innovative medical technologies for patients with respiratory insufficiency diseases and neuromuscular diseases, has been named a winner of the Red Herring 2015 Top 100 North America Award. The annual award honors the most promising private companies in the region.

"It is a great honor that the Red Herring Top 100 evaluation panel recognized the performance and potential of Breathe Technologies with this prestigious award," said Larry Mastrovich, president and CEO, Breathe Technologies. "We are proud of our dedicated employees for their commitment to bringing innovative and life changing technologies to patients worldwide affected by debilitating respiratory insufficiency and neuromuscular diseases."

Finalists for the award are evaluated individually from a large pool of hundreds of candidates based across North America. Twenty major criteria underlie the scoring and process. These include, among others: the candidate company's addressable market size, IP and patents, financing, demonstrated proof of concept, trailing revenues and management's expertise. Each company goes through an individual interview after filling out a comprehensive application submission, followed by an extensive independent due diligence process.

"In 2015, selecting the top 100 achievers was by no means a small feat," said Alex Vieux, publisher and CEO of Red Herring. "In fact, we had the toughest time in years because so many entrepreneurs had crossed significant milestones so early. But after much thought, rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed our list down from hundreds of candidates from across North America to the top 100 winners. We believe Breathe Technologies embodies the vision, drive and innovation that define a successful entrepreneurial venture. Breathe Technologies should be proud of its accomplishment, as the competition was very strong."

Breathe Technologies has previously received domestic and international recognition for the company's contributions to clinical excellence (European Respiratory Society Product of Outstanding Interest), business (FierceMedicalDevice Fierce 15) and product design (Medical Design Excellence Awards).

"It is thrilling to see Breathe Technologies recognized for its contributions to developing disruptive and transformational technologies for patients suffering from severe respiratory diseases," said Beth Seidenberg, M.D., general partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and member of Breathe Technologies' board of directors. "The wearable NIOV system is an enormous step forward in improving their overall quality of life and we've seen a growing number of clinicians and rehabilitation centers using the technology to enable ambulation in this group of individuals who would otherwise remain completely sedentary."

About The Breathe NIOV System

The Breathe NIOV System is a one-pound non-invasive mechanical ventilator that can be used in homecare and institutional settings. The Breathe NIOV System utilizes novel venturi principle technology in a comfortable facial interface that can be worn while talking and exercising. The Breathe NIOV System technology reduces the overall size of the ventilation system and supports patient mobility and independence.

The Breathe NIOV System reduces the work of breathing by unloading the ancillary respiratory muscles.ⁱ Data from the seven studies that support the efficacy of the Breathe NIOV System demonstrate that the device reduces dyspnea (shortness of breath), increases oxygenation, enhances exercise endurance, and unloads respiratory muscle activity.

About Breathe Technologies

Breathe Technologies, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of innovative medical technologies for patients with respiratory insufficiency diseases and neuromuscular diseases. The company is the first provider of lightweight and wearable ventilators that reduce the work of breathing and support improved patient mobility. Breathe Technologies has a robust product pipeline that seeks to address additional unmet needs in respiratory care. Investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Deerfield Management Company, L.P., Roddenbury Foundation, DAG Ventures, Morgan Creek, BioMed Ventures, and Synergy Partners International. Breathe Technologies is located in Irvine, California.

For more information, please visit www.breathetechnologies.com.

ⁱ1Porszasz J, et al. Physiologic effects of an ambulatory ventilation system in COPD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 188, Iss. 3, pp 334342, Aug 1, 2013

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SOURCE Breathe Technologies