Despite the fact that uncomplicated snoring affects more than 30% of the population, it has been a sleeper in terms of the seriousness with which it has been treated by the medical community. Even the potentially more serious related disorder, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), has only slipped into public awareness and the general medical consciousness over the last ten years.

On the basis of the gradual realization of the long-term destructive effects on health of snoring and OSA, an entire industry has developed to the point where the treatment of these sleep disorders is now a multi-billion dollar business. Companies such as ResMed and Respironics have grown from small start-ups to become large profitable global enterprises employing thousands of people from the burgeoning sales of Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and associated accessories.

But not all OSA patients benefit from CPAP therapy. Some estimates put overall long-term compliance rates as low as 30%. The reasons for non-compliance are many and varied but together present an ideal opportunity for any innovative manufacturer who can devise a solution that overcomes patient objections to treatment while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Development of the SomnoMed MAS™

One such appliance has already been developed by a Sydney-based company that is busy setting up global marketing and distribution channels for its patented device. SomnoMed was formed in 2004 to commercialize its mandibular advancement splint, the SomnoMed MAS™. SomnoMed wholly owns all intellectual property rights to the MAS, which was originally developed by orthodontist, Dr. Richard Palmisano.

Listing on the Australian Stock Exchange

The company successfully listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, which provided it with the financial backing necessary to develop a strategic product lifecycle for the SomnoMed MAS™ and a fully equipped and staffed research and development dental laboratory. It is therefore well placed to support the design and development of subsequent generations of the SomnoMed MAS™ and further innovative treatment solutions in a global market growing at over 20% per annum.

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to product Delivery

SomnoMed is adopting an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to the management of snoring and OSA. While patients may be initially referred from a variety of sources, SomnoMed’s clinical pathway requires that all patients are initially referred to a respiratory sleep specialist to assess their suitability for the MAS and then to a dentist for fitting. General Practitioners may also be involved, both in the initial diagnosis and in the referral to the sleep physician. Typically, dentists will see a MAS patient three or four times.

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