CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apnimed, a clinical-stage company focused on advancing pharmacologic treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and related disorders, today announced that Rob Rode has joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Rode has more than 27 years of experience leading global sales and marketing efforts in the biopharmaceutical field and will be responsible for developing and executing Apnimed’s commercial strategy.
“Rob is a proven leader with a long track record of driving consistent performance and commercial success and we are excited to welcome him to the Apnimed team,” said Larry Miller, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Apnimed. “His insights and depth of experience launching and growing brands will be essential as we continue to advance our pipeline of pharmacologic treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and begin to build the commercial infrastructure that will be vital to our success.”
"Obstructive sleep apnea can impact the health and well-being of patients and result in life-threatening and life-shortening consequences. I’m excited to join the passionate team at Apnimed and be part of a shared commitment to revolutionizing the treatment of OSA,” said Mr. Rode. “I look forward to developing a strong commercial road map that will shape the future of this company as we focus on bringing new therapies to patients who currently have limited treatment options."
Mr. Rode brings three decades of experience and a successful track record in global strategy development to his role at Apnimed. Most recently, Mr. Rode served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases at Merck & Co. His experience includes U.S. and global positions leading sales and marketing, including serving as Managing Director for Merck Sharpe and Dohme in Colombia.
Mr. Rode received a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Otterbein University and an M.B.A. from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
About Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is one of the most common and serious sleep disorders and is estimated to affect more than 25 million Americans, though underdiagnosis continues to be a serious problem. OSA is characterized by partial or complete upper airway closure that occurs during sleep, which often leads to poor sleep with reduced oxygen levels, and in the long-term has been shown to exacerbate hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Additionally, OSA can impair work productivity, reduce functional ability, and lead to a lower quality of life.
Sleep-related muscular relaxation driven by the central nervous system is the key neurologic mechanism leading to OSA and is addressed by Apnimed’s new drug combinations. The vast majority of diagnosed patients are currently prescribed positive air pressure therapy devices such as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, but many patients are dissatisfied with these mechanical nighttime devices and fewer than half are compliant long-term, leaving a large population untreated, undertreated, and at risk.
About Apnimed
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 will benefit from treatment with a safe and effective oral medication. Apnimed’s lead development program targets the neurologic control of upper airway muscles to maintain an open airway during sleep. The drug is delivered as a convenient once-daily at bedtime. Based in Cambridge, Mass., the company is developing a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders. Learn more at apnimed.com.
