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Swallow Solutions, LLC |
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May 27, 2013 Issue |
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The Most Powerful Name In Corporate News and Information |
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Bringing to market their Madison Oral Strengthening Therapeutic (MOST®) Device, Swallow Solutions, LLC is having a Positive Impact on Patients suffering from Dysphagia by facilitating Active Rehabilitation of the Muscles used for Swallowing |
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Swallow Solutions is dedicated to the advancement of the health and quality of life for patients with swallowing disorders.
The Madison Oral Strengthening Therapeutic (MOST®) device is FDA registered and approved for sale. It is currently being used clinically at hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country to strengthen the muscles of the head and neck integral to swallowing. Additionally, the MOST is part of a multi-site, randomized clinical trial, the gold standard in evidence-based practice.
Affecting more than 18 million adults and many millions of infants and children in the US, dysphagia is an increasingly common disorder as the population ages, putting us at risk for complications such as pneumonia from aspiration of foods “down the wrong pipe”, malnutrition or dehydration. Feeding tubes placed directly into the stomach to bypass the disordered head and neck structures have been used in recent years, but in many cases are shown to have negative outcomes on health and quality of life. |
Dysphagia
Swallow
Solutions, LLC
Madison, WI 53705
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Interview conducted by: Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor, CEOCFO Magazine, Published – May 27, 2013
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about the concept at Swallow Solutions? Dr. Carlson: Swallow Solutions is a company that commercializes medical devices developed at the University of Wisconsin by Dr. JoAnne Robbins. It is based on her research involving tongue strengthening and its effect on improving swallowing in patients who suffer from swallowing disorders. The MOST is a device that allows the clinician to measure the strength of the tongue and then use it for progressive systematic isometric tongue strengthening therapy associated with swallowing. The goal is to improve swallowing and prevent or reduce complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
CEOCFO: How prevalent are swallowing problems and what is the role of the tongue? Dr. Carlson: Around 18 million patients in the United States, as well as several million children, suffer from some form of swallowing disorder called dysphagia. There are approximately 50 or so muscles involved in the swallowing process and the tongue is one key component comprising numerous muscles. It is involved in the initiation of swallowing as well as the downward propulsive pressure for food to travel successfully through the throat and into the esophagus, thus avoiding the airway. Weakened muscles of the mouth and throat cause food to be misdirected into the airway. By strengthening the muscles using the MOST, we can help avoid aspiration and allow people to eat more normal and healthy diets.
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about your device? Dr. Carlson: The device consists of a mouthpiece that is able to be custom-molded in seconds by the patient or the clinician, into the shape of the roof of the mouth (hard palate). It has 4 air-filled sensors placed at various locations around the hard palate, against which the tongue is pressed with maximum force. Those pressure readings are then used to calculate customized, therapeutic targets. The MOST then is used to strengthen the swallowing muscles over a period of 8 to 12 weeks. The protocol is based on clinically proven protocols used in sports medicine for the limb musculature, also comprising striated musculature as are the head and neck muscles.
CEOCFO: How long has your device been available? Dr. Carlson: We began selling the MOST this past August. It’s been in development for a number of years. We are very excited to finally be able to get this device out and help patients who suffer from dysphagia.
CEOCFO: What are the competing ways to strengthen the tongue? Dr. Carlson: Good question. There are a number of therapies out there for people who suffer from swallowing disorders. Some of them are postural--such as turning the head to the side of the weakness or require dietary modification such as adding a thickening agent to all fluids that a patient drinks. The MOST is relatively unique in that it facilitates active rehabilitation of the muscles of swallowing rather than just compensating for deficits. It allows the patient and the therapist to place the mouthpiece consistently in the hard palate so that we can compare pressure readings initially, during the course of treatment and then at the end of treatment so we can document and verify the effectiveness of therapy.
CEOCFO: How does Swallow Solutions reach people who should know about the device? Are people as aware as they should be? Dr. Carlson: Right now we’re at the Dysphagia Research Society in Seattle. Our founder, Dr. JoAnne Robbins is a world expert in this field. Many people in this area are aware of her work. But as with all small startup companies, getting the word out is an important part of our marketing strategy. We make direct contact in conferences and support medical trials as well as publications that support the use of the device. Patients become aware of our device through our website and word of mouth. It is important to us to involve a speech pathologist or other clinicians in this area early on in the process including the initial evaluation. To that end, we work directly with the clinicians. We are certainly happy to discuss our device with patients but also help them make connections with the appropriate clinician if they do not have one already. Dysphagia, or swallowing disorders, is an under-recognized, devastating disorder. These people have many complications, including death. It is common enough that almost everybody we talk to knows someone who has a significant swallowing disorder. Part of the reason it has been under-recognized is that the treatments have been less than optimal. Often, they silently suffer with the disorder with no positive long-term outlook. Early clinical trials and other patients using the device have demonstrated that patients respond dramatically to increased strength of the swallowing musculature. We are really excited about bringing a positive outcome to these patients, some who have lost hope in eating anything “normal” with their families. It is interesting that the frequency of swallowing disorders is similar to diabetes; everyone is aware of the problem of diabetes, yet the incidence of dysphagia is often unrecognized. In the field of medical devices, the landscape is changing. One of the things we feel is very positive about our device is the potential to lower the complication rate of swallowing disorders, particularly aspiration pneumonia. The clinical trial will measure some of these complication rates and evaluate any reduction. Reduced complications will translate into overall lower cost of care. Through proper use of the MOST, there is an opportunity to not only improve the quality of life and well-being of patients, but also to reduce the medical care cost and complications.
CEOCFO: Are you based strictly in the US and do you have any plans to expand internationally? Dr. Carlson: We are based in the U.S. and have generated a lot of interest in Asia, Latin America and Europe. We are preparing to move forward in those regions.
CEOCFO: Development and commercialization are always rather costly. Does Swallow Solutions have funds to do the full roll out that you would like, or will you be seeking partnerships or additional funding? Dr. Carlson: We have just finished our series A rounds and have raised $1.046 million. We will use those funds to fast-forward development and marketing strategies. We look forward to moving the device out into the marketplace and creating awareness about the effectiveness of our device. We also are using these funds to develop additional devices and products specific to the growing population of dysphagic patients.
CEOCFO: From your previous ventures, what has been most helpful for you with Swallow Solutions? Dr. Carlson: I started out as a practicing pathologist in Central Wisconsin at Marshfield Clinic. I was very fortunate to serve in a number of roles for that organization. This gave me an opportunity to view healthcare and the practice of medicine from a variety of perspectives. Looking at the aging population, the cost of care associated with chronic disease, the baby boomers as they roll through the demographic curves and the impact that that’s going to have on healthcare, it is clear to me that the current practices of medicine and reimbursement are not sustainable--not only in the long term but the short term as well. Much more effort has to be focused on how to prevent treatable complications. It is the proverbial “stitch in time saves nine”. If we can catch a disease or condition early enough and do more preventative therapies, we can avoid or at least lessen some of these complications. Our MOST device can have a positive impact not only in treating patients, but also fit in into the evolving practice of medicine.
CEOCFO: What makes Swallow Solutions an exceptional company and why should it stand out to investors and people in the business community?
Dr.
Carlson:
There are two primary reasons. The first is the positive impact that we are
having on this population by bringing a new, more effective set of
treatments to those who suffer from dysphagia. Secondly, Swallow Solutions
can serve as a template for more effective management of chronic diseases
through seeking out interventions and strategies that we can engage the
patient and their care providers to effectively and efficiently manage the
disease and reduce the costly complications. |
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“The MOST is relatively unique in that it facilitates active rehabilitation of the muscles of swallowing rather than just compensating for deficits.”- Dr. Robert A. Carlson |
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