ApniCure Inc, a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing novel home-use devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has appointed David P. White, MD, as chief scientific officer.

“David brings to ApniCure decades of research and clinical experience in sleep medicine and OSA, as well as critical industry expertise in treating sleep disorders,” said Steve Carlson, president and chief executive officer of ApniCure. “His leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we ramp up our commercial launch of the Winx Sleep Therapy System, a new alternative for the treatment of all severities of OSA, and leverage our proprietary oral pressure therapy (OPT) platform technology to develop other innovative treatments for patients suffering from OSA.”

Before joining ApniCure, White served as chief medical officer for Philips Respironics. He is currently a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School and senior physician, Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Winx Sleep Therapy System
The Winx system is designed to offer a comfortable sleeping experience, allowing users to breathe naturally without a mask. Winx uses a proprietary platform technology called OPT to treat OSA. OPT is a light, oral vacuum delivered by a quiet console through a slim tube connected to a soft mouthpiece. The mouthpiece and vacuum work together to gently pull the soft palate forward and stabilize the tongue, increasing the size of the airway and allowing for natural breathing to occur during sleep.

ApniCure has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to market the Winx system and has commercially launched the product in select US markets with broader distribution in 2013.