CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Apnimed, a clinical-stage company focused on advancing pharmacologic treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and related disorders, today announced that David P. White, M.D., has joined the team as Distinguished Scientist and Chair of Apnimed’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. White is a world-renowned leader in sleep disorders having served as President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and recently as the Chief Medical Officer for Philips Respironics.

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David P. White, M.D., Distinguished Scientist and Chair, Scientific Advisory Board at Apnimed (Photo: Business Wire)

“To date, therapeutic options for sleep apnea have centered on targeting the anatomical and symptomatic aspects of the disease without addressing the underlying neurobiological causes,” noted Dr. David P. White. “Sleep apnea can importantly impact the health and well-being of patients and result in life threatening consequences; thus, patients need improved therapeutic options. Having spent decades treating patients and investigating sleep disorders, I’m very excited about Apnimed’s, once-daily, oral pharmaceutical approach, which has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of this disease.”

Larry Miller, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Apnimed added, “As we continue to advance multiple mid-stage clinical trials with AD109, our investigational drug treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, we welcome the unsurpassed experience and depth of knowledge about sleep and respiratory pathophysiology that Dr. White brings to the team.”

Dr. David P. White is board-certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease. Prior to joining Apnimed, Dr. White was Chief Medical Officer for Philips Respironics where he was responsible for leading the company’s clinical research strategies and programs in the sleep and respiratory markets. In addition to his new position at Apnimed, Dr. White is a Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. During his career, Dr. White was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal SLEEP, served on the test writing committees for the American Board of Internal Medicine for both the Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine, and has published over 250 original papers. He also chaired the task force that wrote the research plan to address sleep and sleep disorders for the National Institutes of Health. Dr. White graduated from Emory University Medical School and completed training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Apnimed has also promoted Luigi Taranto Montemurro, M.D., a co-founder of the company, to Chief Scientific Officer. “We are excited to recognize Dr. Taranto Montemurro’s incredible work and his continued leadership, which is essential to our work in the discovery of novel pharmacologic approaches to treating obstructive sleep apnea and related sleep disorders,” said Larry Miller, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Apnimed.

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most common and serious sleep disorders and affects approximately six percent of women and 13 percent of men in the U.S., totaling more than 25 million Americans. OSA is characterized by partial or complete upper airway occlusion that occurs during sleep which may lead to poor sleep, and in the long-term, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and early mortality. OSA is also a major cause of motor vehicle accidents and workplace injuries. Over 80 percent of diagnosed patients are prescribed positive pressure devices such as CPAP, but only 30-40 percent are compliant long-term, leaving a significant population untreated and at risk. Apnimed expects its pharmacologic therapies to transform treatment of this serious sleep disorder.

About Apnimed

Apnimed is a clinical-stage company working to transform the treatment of sleep apnea based on a simple idea – patients will benefit from safe and effective oral drug treatment. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the company is developing a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders. To learn more visit Apnimed.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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