George Washington University
George Washington University

OT Bio

George Washington University
Intranasal Oxytocin Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Stage

Proof-of-Concept Award

Sectors

Life Sciences

Team Members

David Mendelowitz, PhD / Vivek Jain, MD (Updated Pitch Deck 4.23)

Seeking

C-Level
Advisor
Funding

Added Info

Contact

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OT Bio aims to apply our patented intranasal oxytocin therapy to treat sleep apnea and protect patients from associated heart disease. The scientific leaders have complementary bench and clinical expertise that has enabled both understanding of oxytocin's mechanisms in the brain and human studies showing improved respiratory and cardiac functions.

Problem & Market Focus

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a health risk that occurs in 24% of males and 9% of females in the United States. OSA can lead to several cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, arrhythmia, and stroke. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatments often fail due to low compliance.

Technology & Value Proposition

GW Researchers developed an intranasal oxytocin administration method that protects OSA patients by maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. They also see potential for decreasing awakening events, decreasing hypoxia, increasing sleep quality, and increasing compliance with CPAP. Oxytocin is a human peptide hormone well known for its roles in childbirth. Oxytocin is also involved in anxiety and social bonding, which is why it may help with CPAP compliance. In animal models of social stressors, oxytocin has been shown to be protective against behavioral and cardiac dysfunction. Published pilot human sleep studies were completed at GW and more are in progress. Cardiac benefits of stimulating oxytocin-releasing neurons in the brain were seen when in rats faced with chronic intermittent low oxygen (a model for OSA).

Keywords

Sleep Apnea, OSA, CPAP, Oxytocin, Intranasal, Cardiac Homeostasis, Parasympathetic control, Compliance, Medical, Pharmacological Therapeutic
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