--The product's unique form factor minimizes invasiveness drastically and enables it to be charged in a user-friendly manner

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the sleep apnea neuromodulator industry, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Nyxoah S.A. with the 2014 Europe Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation Leadership. Nyxoah addresses the size challenge in the sleep apnea therapy industry with a neuromodulator that is more than 16 times smaller than its competitors. It is an excellent second line of treatment for patients who are non-compliant with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141215/164460

At 20 mm (length) by 2.5 mm (width), Nyxoah's device is by far the smallest and thinnest neuromodulator in the industry. It requires minimal incision, which, in turn, reduces the possibilities of post-surgical infection, scarring and pain.

Competing obstructive sleep apnea treatment technologies use more than one implantable component and, therefore, require related sensors and wires to connect the different components. Such treatment systems are more invasive, painful, time-consuming, and susceptible to failure.

Nyxoah's neuromodulator comprises an implantable device and an external adhesive patch. The flexible implant is the size of a coin, thinner than a few sheets of paper, and features thin contact leads. In a 15 to 30-minute surgical procedure, the implant is surgically placed under the patient's chin, close to the nerves that control the tongue muscles. Before sleeping, the patient places the external adhesive patch (measuring 55mm by 90mm) on the underside of the chin. The patch wirelessly delivers energy to the nerves around the tongue throughout the night, which prevents airway blockage during sleep.

"The implant has minimal to zero risk of migration from the implantation site," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Saju Mathew. "Unlike other implants that need to be surgically replaced every five years, Nyxoah S.A.'s implant has a lifetime of at least 12 years."

Meanwhile, through careful, strategic patent planning, the company has isolated dozens of critical features and then pursued strategies that are most likely to protect the company's value. The patents are designed to work together to provide intellectual property (IP) protection for Nyxoah.

Studies on Nyxoah's potential reveal that more than 87 percent of physicians in the United States, 67 percent of physicians in France, and 75 percent of physicians in Germany believe that its solution could become a first-line treatment option. Patients also rated the product highly because it provides natural sleep (no masks or tubes), demonstrates long-term effectiveness, is mobile, and does not cause side effects such as dry mouth.

"Apart from enabling health benefits, it lowers the economic burden on the patient; reduces other comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, diabetes and hypertension; and improves their quality of life," noted Mathew.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which, in turn, increases customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Nyxoah S.A.

Nyxoah is a clinical-stage medical device start-up company headquartered in Brussels Belgium, with R&D facilities there and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Nyxoah was founded in 2009 by Mr. Robert Taub and Dr. Adi Mashiach.

Nyxoah has developed a game-changing neurostimulation implant that effectively treats Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and snoring while overcoming current challenges. It is tiny, low cost, has low migration risk and low power consumption, and stimulates without direct nerve contact. As a result, implantation is minimally invasive and occurs without the need to expose nerve tissue. Power is delivered wirelessly from a small, daily-use adhesive patch located up to 50mm from the implant. Preloaded for deployment on a delivery tool, Nyxoah expects that a single surgeon will be able to implant the device in an outpatient procedure of 15-30 minutes. Animal and human studies (in progress) are demonstrating extremely promising results, as world-leading opinion leaders already naming it as the emerging market leader and "the future of apnea treatment".

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan