Tim Boreham is one of Australia’s best-known small cap analysts and business journalists. share As the head of a company selling mouthguard-like oral devices to combat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), Neil Verdal-Austin surprises us by praising the effectiveness of the standard-of-care rival pumps and masks sold by industry leaders ResMed and Respironics. He says the continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) units are 100 per cent effective — when worn that is. The trouble is, the devices are renown for being uncomfortable and the compliance rate is extremely low at 30 to 50 per cent. At the same time, most OSA sufferers are recommended CPAP devices, even though oral devices could be suitable for two-thirds of users (patients with mild to moderate snoring). “It’s like prescribing someone a wheelchair before crutches and that doesn’t make sense to me,” SomnoMed’s (ASX:SOM) Verdal-Austin says. SomnoMed markets continuous open airway therapy, or COAT. […]