Respicardia, which successfully completed enrollment into a global chronic pilot study to treat central sleep apnea (CSA) with an implantable system last month, appointed Jay Millerhagen as vice president of clinical affairs and market development.
The developer of implantable therapies to improve respiratory and cardiovascular health made the strategic hire in anticipation of the start of its pivotal clinical trial of the remed? System, a pacemaker-like device that delivers electrical pulses to the diaphragm during sleep to restore a more normal breathing pattern in patients with CSA. According to an earlier acute feasibility study, the device can reduce the apnea hypopnea index by at least 50%.
“We are delighted that Jay has decided to join our dynamic team and will spearhead our pivotal clinical trial expected to start in early 2013,” said Bonnie Labosky, CEO of Respicardia. “His 23 years of cardiology-centric medical device experience, which includes conducting several major clinical trials, make him an ideal fit for our company at this exciting and important juncture.”
