Ventus Medical Launches Provent® Sleep Apnea Therapy in Australia and New Zealand

BELMONT, Calif. and BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventus Medical is pleased to announce that its proprietary Provent® Sleep Apnea Therapy, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is now available in Australia and New Zealand. BMedical Pty. Ltd. will be the strategic distribution partner of Provent Therapy in these countries.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110209/SF45785-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110209/SF45785-b)

In Australia, an estimated 13.5 percent of people suffer from OSA, and the percentage increases with advancing age. In addition to this high prevalence, Australia is the birthplace of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was invented over 30 years ago. CPAP is the gold standard for treatment of OSA and is extremely effective at treating OSA if worn as directed. However, up to half of all patients are not compliant with CPAP therapy due to the cumbersome nature of the treatment. Provent Therapy was developed to help patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy and will benefit from the small, non-invasive and effective technology, which Provent Therapy provides.

"The awareness of health risks associated with obstructive sleep apnea in Australia and New Zealand has increased dramatically over the last decade, with improved diagnosis and treatment rates in scale," commented Dr. John Swieca, Medical Director of the Melbourne Sleep Disorders Centre. "Since its introduction thirty years ago, CPAP has become the standard treatment approach, for all severities of OSA. However, CPAP is not for everyone, including many patients with mild and moderate OSA. As a sleep physician, I welcome Provent nasal EPAP as a well-validated treatment alternative for patients with OSA."

In patients with OSA the airway collapses during sleep when the muscles that hold it open relax. People with this disorder stop breathing during sleep---in some cases hundreds of times each night---usually for periods of ten seconds or longer. Sleep apnea can lead to fatigue, early morning headaches, irritability, lack of concentration, and contributes to depression, learning and memory difficulties, and sexual dysfunction. Importantly, recent studies have shown that OSA is associated with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

"As we look at global market opportunities for Provent Therapy, Australia and New Zealand fit directly into our corporate strategy, which is to target markets where three factors come together: higher prevalence of OSA, acceptance of innovative therapies, and importantly, a need for new therapeutic options that address low patient compliance," stated Peter Wyles, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ventus Medical. "With BMedical, and their extensive experience in sleep disorder treatment and diagnosis, we look forward to bringing Provent Therapy, to the physicians treating this troubling condition."

About Provent® Sleep Apnea Therapy

Provent is a proprietary medical device used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The device has been shown to be clinically effective in a series of peer reviewed studies.  It is an easy to use, non-invasive and disposable treatment that works across mild, moderate, and severe OSA. Provent Therapy utilizes nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to keep a patient's airway open during sleep and has been clinically proven in numerous studies to reduce sleep apnea.  It incorporates a novel MicroValve design that is placed over the nostrils and secured with hypoallergenic adhesive. During inhalation, the valve opens allowing nearly unobstructed airflow. During exhalation, the valve closes, limiting airflow through small openings, which increases expiratory pressure and keeps the airway open, preventing disruption in breathing. Provent® Therapy is accepted onto the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), is FDA cleared and has CE marking. For more information, please visit www.proventtherapy.com.

About Ventus Medical

Ventus Medical is a privately-held medical device company dedicated to providing non-invasive medical solutions for people with sleep-disordered breathing. Based on its innovative MicroValve technology and patented designs, Ventus has developed a unique line of clinically-proven medical devices to address the continuum of sleep disorders from severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to mild snoring. Ventus Medical devices work by creating expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). The company markets Provent® Therapy, a discreet, easy-to-use nasal device, for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in the United States, Hong Kong and India, and is developing an over-the-counter device for snoring. www.ventusmedical.com.

About BMedical Pty. Ltd.

BMedical Pty supplies innovative diagnostic and treatment products for sleep disorders, fatigue research and industrial health throughout Australia and New Zealand. Equipment ranges from watch-sized devices to monitor sleep patterns over time through to wireless transmitting 'pills' for monitoring core body temperature to assess circadian phase/body clock. BMedical clients include all the leading sleep and circadian laboratories, fatigue and exercise researchers, emergency services, road transport operators, elite sports teams, Australian military and oil companies.  Additional information on where to obtain Provent Therapy is available at www.bmedical.com.au.

SOURCE Ventus Medical