"UK Wakes Up to 32Co's Expanded Sleep Centre Network, Aimed at Combating Rising Sleep Disorder Predicament"
In a significant move to address the growing issue of sleep disorders in the UK, London-based healthtech company 32Co is set to launch a nationwide network of sleep centres named 'Aerox Sleep Centres' this summer. The initial centres will be located in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol, with plans to expand nationwide.
The expansion marks a major step into 32Co's second healthcare vertical. The company aims to improve accessibility to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and snoring treatments, making specialist care more readily available to the majority of the population. With 1 in 4 individuals in the UK snoring or problematically snoring, potentially leading to chronic sleep disruption, the need for such a service is evident.
The Aerox Sleep Centres will focus on treating patients with mild to moderate OSA and problematic snoring. They will significantly improve access to Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), a non-invasive treatment for OSA and snoring. Traditional over-the-counter solutions for snoring have failed to address the root cause, and the CPAP machine, the industry standard treatment for sleep apnoea, is often found uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and difficult to travel with, causing many patients to stop treatment. MADs, on the other hand, have been found to have 25% higher adherence rates than Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, with similar improvements in Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Quality of Life (QoL).
32Co is upskilling dentists in OSA treatment, giving them access to medical specialists for virtual collaboration and creating a market for MADs. Only a small percentage of dentists currently offer this treatment, with 32Co aiming to address this gap. The company's clinical expert, Professor Ama Johal, leads the efforts to provide industry-backed, custom-made treatment devices like Mandibular Advancement Splints, which have proven efficacy in managing OSA and snoring.
The market impact of this expansion lies in addressing a previously underserved patient need: millions suffer from sleep disorders with limited treatment options. By creating a marketplace for personalized devices and upskilling dentists in sleep disorder therapies, 32Co fills a notable gap, potentially disrupting traditional pathways that often rely on less accessible or specialized sleep clinics.
The focus on MADs suggests a high standard of care. These devices are established in medical literature as effective, non-invasive interventions for mild to moderate OSA and snoring, improving symptoms and reducing related health risks. Testimonials from patients such as John, 69, from Manchester, and Helen, 64, from London, highlight the positive impact these devices have had on their lives. John expressed extreme disappointment at the thought of no longer using his device, stating he would sleep downstairs with the dog if it broke. Helen believes that many people would benefit from MADs because they are unobtrusive and more people suffer from snoring than realized.
In pre-pilot trials, the Aerox Sleep Centres and MADs have helped hundreds of patients improve their sleep. Michael, 58, from London, stated that he doesn't wake up as tired as he normally does and without the device, he would probably wake up with less energy and be grumpier. The Aerox Sleep Centres enhance treatment accessibility by embedding specialist sleep disorder care within convenient, local dental settings, while offering evidence-based therapies that can improve patient outcomes and meet a large unmet market demand in the UK sleep disorder space.
The cultural shift known as 'sleep divorces', where partners are forced to sleep in separate rooms due to snoring, is also a concern. OSA is linked to depression, memory loss, diabetes, fatigue-related accidents, and a cultural shift known as 'sleep divorces'. It is also linked with several serious medical conditions, including hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. By providing accessible and effective treatment options, 32Co aims to reduce these health risks and improve the quality of life for millions of people in the UK.
[1] Source: 32Co press release, May 2023.
- 32Co, in its expansion, is venturing into the field of digital health by launching a nationwide network of sleep centres, named 'Aerox Sleep Centres', which specialize in the treatment of sleep disorders, particularly Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and snoring.
- The company aims to address the issue of chronic sleep disruption, prevalent in the UK, by improving accessibility to Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), a non-invasive treatment for OSA and snoring.
- In an effort to create a market for MADs and address the gap in OSA treatment provision, 32Co is upskilling dentists in OSA treatment, providing them with access to medical specialists for virtual collaboration.
- The introduction of Aerox Sleep Centres and MADs has the potential to disrupt traditional sleep disorder treatment pathways, focusing on personalized devices and dentist-led care, rather than specialized sleep clinics.
- By providing effective treatment options for sleep disorders, 32Co aims to reduce health risks associated with conditions like chronic sleep disruption, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and depression, improving the quality of life for millions in the UK.
