We all know the magic of a good night’s sleep – and the misery of a restless one. Sleep fuels us physically and mentally, boosts our immunity and metabolism, improves our mood and memory, and reduces our stress levels. But almost one-third of Americans – that’s nearly 80 million of us – do not get enough sleep.
While the reasons vary, one of the most common causes is sleep apnea. About 6 million Americans have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) according to the American Medical Association. It’s believed that many more suffer from the condition, with about 24 million people going undiagnosed.
This is why we are so excited about our investment in Mosanna, a biotech company developing a novel bedtime nasal spray for obstructive sleep apnea. With Mosanna’s help, we’re hoping more people will be able to rest a lot easier.
Beyond the Snore
OSA is more serious than the snoring that keeps you and your loved ones awake at night. OSA causes a person’s airway to collapse during sleep, resulting in snoring, long breathing pauses, and interrupted sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase risks for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, and even car and work accidents.
“Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase risks for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, and even car and work accidents.”
Advances in wearable technology have made diagnosing sleep apnea easier, which may lead to an increase in the diagnosed patients and patients seeking treatment. Unfortunately, as many people soon discover, the traditional treatments can introduce other problems.
The Challenge of Sleep Apnea Treatment
Today, most sleep apnea patients rely on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines or surgery. You’ve likely seen them: a face mask, velcro head straps, and a web of tubes all connected to a supplemental pump to maintain a positive airway.
Despite being effective, as many as 83% of CPAP users report non-compliance due to discomfort, noise, and complexity. And in some cases, the masks can irritate the skin, forcing patients to discontinue use altogether.
Surgical interventions, such as upper airway anatomy surgery and hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), have shown promise too. However, surgery is expensive, requiring significant time from ENT surgeons and is often reserved for those with severe OSA after they’ve exhausted all other treatment options.
There are some pharmaceutical trials aimed at sleep apnea currently underway. However, patients have reported significant side effects, including reduced sleep quality, and elevated blood pressure and heart rate have been observed— all of which can be triggers for other health concerns.
Breaking Barriers in OSA Treatment with a Game-Changing Nasal Spray
While limited pharmaceutical treatments for OSA patients have been approved, Mosanna hopes to bring its new, groundbreaking therapy to market to address the larger population.
The natural airway reflex in OSA patients decreases at night, causing loss of airway patency and apnea. Mosanna is developing a solution to target the problem at its source: an easy-to-use bedtime nasal spray, MOS118, which will help upper airway muscles maintain patency, restoring the body’s natural airway control.
Mosanna’s nasal spray has the potential to be a truly transformational approach to sleep apnea treatment: a non-invasive, non-mechanical alternative that will fit more easily into patients’ daily lives. No tubes. No mask.
“Mosanna’s nasal spray is a truly transformational approach to sleep apnea treatment: a non-invasive, non-mechanical alternative that fits easily into patients’ daily lives.”
Investing in Addressing Patients’ Unmet Needs
Norwest is excited to invest in Mosanna’s Series A round, which will propel the company through its clinical trials and support expansion of the company’s pipeline.
Nearly a billion people worldwide are impacted by sleep apnea, which presents a significant opportunity for Mosanna to address a critical unmet need. As the prevalence of OSA continues to rise and patients struggle with uncomfortable, unsustainable, and invasive treatment options, there will be a growing demand for more effective, patient-friendly alternatives.
With the prospect of being one of the first non-mechanical and non-invasive treatment for OSA, Mosanna will have a significant lead in the potential multi-billion-dollar market among competitive treatments.
We are excited to support the promising sleep apnea treatment being developed by Mosanna and bring them into our family of healthcare investments. Mosanna joins several other Norwest companies – including Cytovale, Nuvig, SetPoint, and more – that are applying innovative solutions for healthcare’s unmet needs.
