18 January 2017 - - US-based medical devices company Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (NASDAQ: APEN) has appointed Christopher J. Gostout, MD, as its chief medical officer, the company said.

Gostout brings with him more than 30 years of experience in gastroenterology and hepatology with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and is a recognised key opinion leader on minimally invasive endolumenal and surgical procedures.

In his new role, Gostout will be responsible for developing the medical and clinical strategy for the company and will be the company's principal representative interacting with key medical societies and other key opinion leaders in the advancement of Apollo's business goals.

Gostout will join the executive management team as a direct report to the company's CEO Todd Newton.

Prior to joining Apollo in this capacity, Gostout grew a successful gastroenterologist practice at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with a joint appointment in the Department of Surgery, from which he retired on December 31, 2016.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Gostout previously provided consulting Chief Medical officer services to Apollo.

He was a Professor of Medicine in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and the director of the Developmental Endoscopy and Research Unit, and the founder of The Mayo Clinic GI Bleeding Team and the Developmental Endoscopy Unit.

Gostout has previously been the president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and has been responsible for the development of the renowned ASGE ITT center. He has also been a member of The board of Trustees in the American College of Gastroenterology.

His areas of specialty interest, research, and publication include endoscope development, gastrointestinal bleeding, management of pancreaticobiliary disease, advanced endoscopic imaging, endotherapy of obesity, and endoscopic resection and tissue closure techniques.

Apollo Endosurgery is a medical device company focused on less invasive therapies for the treatment of obesity, a condition facing over 500 m people globally, as well as other gastrointestinal disorders.