ResMed Inks Deal for Poland-Based Distributor

San Diego, Calif.-based ResMed Inc., a manufacturer of sleep and respiratory technology, is expanding internationally. The company recently purchased Warsaw, Poland-headquartered Mediserv, a distributor of equipment for the sleep-disordered breathing and respitory ailments.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“One in four adults stops breathing multiple times throughout the night as a result of mild to severe sleep apnea,” said Tomasz Zarzycki, commercial director for ResMed’s Emerging Markets unit. “Our agreement with Mediserv will allow us to expand our reach to help more of our citizens obtain comfortable and effective treatment for sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders.”

Mediserv will continue to serve its existing patients but, under ResMed’s ownership, will expand its service to include cardiology as well as home care and hospital respiratory care populations. Mediserv is expected to transition to its new name of ResMed-Poland within six months.

“Mediserv has carried ResMed products because we wanted our patients to have the best treatment options for their sleep-disordered breathing (SDB),” said Fayez Afana, owner and general manager of Mediserv. “With this acquisition, ResMed can more rapidly introduce its new technologies for SDB patients as well as those who require ventilation, either at home or in hospital, and ResMed will be closer to the patient to promote awareness of SDB problems in Poland.”

Afana will continue to support the business as a full-time consultant.

“Having a direct presence in Poland is similar to our model in other European countries, and it will allow us to better serve our home care providers for respiratory care and other sleep and breathing therapy needs,” said Anne Reiser, predident of ResMed-Europe.

ResMed makes products for the diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory disorders, with a focus on sleep-disordered breathing.