17 June 2022 - - Ruoxi Hu, Ph.D., from Morningside Technology Advisory, LLC has been appointed to US-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company Apnimed's board of directors, the company said.

Dr. Hu replaces Jay Galeota, who recently stepped down from the board.

Dr. Hu is an experienced advisor, having worked with Mass General Brigham Ventures and Clarion prior to joining Morningside Technology Advisory.

She received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in Public Health from Harvard University.

Apnimed's AD109 has the potential to be the first oral pharmacologic that treats OSA airway closures at night.

It is a first-in-class, novel, investigational combination dosed once daily at bedtime and is designed to treat OSA patients across a broad spectrum of disease severity.

AD109 combines a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (atomoxetine) with Apnimed's new chemical entity and selective antimuscarinic (aroxybutynin).

AD109 targets key neurological pathways in OSA that cause upper airway closure during sleep by activating the upper airway dilator muscles and maintaining an open airway during sleep.

This drug combination has the potential to become a safe, effective, and convenient treatment for OSA, addressing some of the key limitations of the current device and surgical approaches that are the standard of care treatments.

AD109 is currently completing Phase 2 clinical trials, after which Apnimed plans to meet with FDA to discuss the Phase 3 development program.

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 could benefit from treatment with a safe and effective oral medication dosed once daily at bedtime.

Apnimed's lead development program targets the neurologic control of upper airway muscles to maintain an open airway during sleep.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., the company is developing a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders.