David P. White, M.D. Appointed Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Apnimed

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., a world-renowned leader in sleep disorders has been appointed Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs. In this role, Dr. White will lead medical communication with the sleep disorder clinical community, as well as contribute to the ongoing clinical development of Apnimed’s late-stage drug candidates including AD109. In addition to his new responsibilities, Dr. White will continue to serve as Chair of Apnimed’s Scientific Advisory Board.

“Clinicians understand that obstructive sleep apnea is a prevalent and debilitating medical condition affecting the health and well-being of patients. Left untreated, OSA can have serious and even life-threatening consequences,” said Dr. White. “There is a tremendous unmet need for a safe, effective, and easy-to-use treatment option that addresses the underlying cause of the disease. Apnimed’s approach could be transformative for patients. I am excited to engage with the clinical community as we build a pipeline of therapies to transform the treatment of sleep apnea and related disorders.”

Larry Miller, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Apnimed added, “Dr. White has been a key partner and thought leader since joining us earlier this year as a Distinguished Scientist and chairing our Scientific Advisory Board. We are thrilled he will be taking on increased responsibilities and applying his in-depth knowledge about sleep and respiratory pathophysiology, as well as his deep connections with the sleep disorders community, as we complete multiple mid-stage clinical trials with AD109, our investigational drug treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.”

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 served as the President of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal SLEEP, served on the test writing committees for the American Board of Internal Medicine for both 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.

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most common and serious sleep disorders and is estimated to affect more than 25 million Americans, though underdiagnosis continues to be a serious problem. OSA is characterized by partial or complete upper airway closure that occurs during sleep, which often leads to poor sleep with reduced oxygen levels, and in the long-term has been shown to exacerbate hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Additionally, OSA can impair work productivity, reduce functional ability, and lead to a lower quality of life.

Sleep-related muscular relaxation driven by the central nervous system is the key neurologic mechanism leading to OSA and is addressed by Apnimed’s new drug combinations. The vast majority of diagnosed patients are currently prescribed positive air pressure therapy devices such as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, but many patients are dissatisfied with these mechanical nighttime devices and fewer than half are compliant long-term, leaving a large population untreated, undertreated, and at risk.

About Apnimed

Apnimed is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company working to transform the treatment of sleep apnea based on a simple idea – patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea will benefit from treatment with a safe and effective oral medication. Apnimed’s lead development program targets the neurologic control of upper airway muscles to maintain an open airway during sleep. The drug is delivered as a convenient once-daily at bedtime. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the company is developing a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders. Learn more at apnimed.com.

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