April 12, 2021 — CHELMSFORD, MASS. — ZOLL® Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, today announced that it has acquired Respicardia, Inc., a provider of novel implantable neurostimulators for the treatment of moderate to severe Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). CSA is a serious condition that is often associated with heart failure, coronary artery disease, and certain cardiac arrhythmias.

Respicardia’s remedē® System is a revolutionary treatment for CSA, and is the only implantable device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate to severe CSA in adult patients with reduced cardiac function.1 CSA results in shallow or disrupted breathing during sleep, and many patients with CSA also have heart disease, especially heart failure.2 Within this population, patients with CSA are at increased risk for hospitalizations and even death.3,4

“ZOLL and Respicardia both develop innovative therapies for conditions with large unmet clinical needs, and we share a deep commitment to improving patient outcomes,” said Jon Rennert, CEO of ZOLL Medical. “With this acquisition, ZOLL will combine its expertise in cardiac and respiratory care with Respicardia’s novel remedē® System to make a meaningful difference in the health and quality of life for many patients.”

CSA occurs when the brain fails to send appropriate signals to the breathing muscles that stimulate a regular breathing pattern. CSA symptoms include chronic fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment and inability to get restful sleep. CSA is distinct from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which results from a blockage of the upper airway.5

Respicardia’s remedē® System is implanted by a cardiac electrophysiologist during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. The remedē® System delivers electrical pulses to one of the phrenic nerves, which send signals to the diaphragm, restoring a more normal breathing pattern during sleep. Respicardia estimates there are more than one million CSA patients in the U.S. alone who could benefit from the remedē® System,6 which has been shown to improve sleep, enhance well-being, and reduce daytime sleepiness, enabling better overall health.7

“Respicardia is excited to be joining the ZOLL family,” said Peter Sommerness, CEO of Respicardia. “As an innovator of safe and effective therapies that address the unmet needs of respiratory and cardiovascular patients, we see tremendous potential ahead with the support of ZOLL’s strong brand and global reach.”

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