Ventus Medical introduces Provent Sleep Apnea Therapy in Canada

Ventus Medical is pleased to announce the introduction of its proprietary Provent^® Sleep Apnea Therapy into Canada. Provent Therapy is an innovative, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Provent Therapy is now available in the province of Ontario and will be available throughout Canada by June 2013. ioSleep, Inc. is the strategic distribution partner of Provent Therapy in Canada.

There is growing demand for clinically proven sleep apnea treatments and the introduction of Provent represents a scientifically validated, innovative and user-friendly approach. Provent works across mild, moderate, and severe OSA and utilizes nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to keep a patient's airway open during sleep.

"According to the Public Health Agency of Canada over 1 in 4 Canadian adults are at high risk of having OSA.  OSA is suspected in patients who are loud snorers, excessively sleepy, obese and hypertensive," said Dr. John Fleetham, Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. "OSA is increasingly being recognised in Canadian patients.  CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the primary treatment for OSA, however not all patients can tolerate it as a long term treatment." Dr. Fleetham further comments, "I welcome new validated treatment alternatives for OSA such as Provent Sleep Apnea Therapy."

"We believe clinically-proven Provent Therapy offers a unique and convenient alternative to CPAP treatment for the large number of people in Canada currently affected by OSA," said Philip Westbrook, M.D., chief medical officer of Ventus Medical. "Provent has been used effectively in the United States since 2008 and in clinical studies, Provent Therapy improved quality of sleep while it reduced apnea (breathing disruptions), daytime sleepiness and snoring. Importantly, Provent is easy to use, portable and discreet for use at home or when travelling."

CPAP is the primary treatment of OSA and is extremely effective 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.

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. OSA 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, Canada fits directly into our corporate strategy, which is to target markets where three factors come together: high 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 ioSleep and their extensive experience in sleep disorder treatment and diagnosis, we are pleased to present Provent Therapy as a new treatment to manage this troubling condition."