The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced on Wednesday that their popular weight-loss drug Zepbound has shown promise in relieving sleep apnea in obese adults. In two trials, Zepbound reduced the severity of sleep apnea by nearly two-thirds in patients, making it a potential breakthrough in the treatment of this common sleep disorder.
Dr. Jeff Emmick, senior vice president of product development at Lilly, emphasized the importance of addressing the unmet need for sleep apnea treatment, as many cases go undiagnosed and untreated. The results of the trials have not yet been published in a medical journal, but the preliminary findings are promising.
In the studies, Zepbound was found to be more effective than a placebo in reducing the number of breathing interruptions during sleep. Patients who did not use CPAP machines experienced an average reduction of 27.4 events per hour with Zepbound, compared to 4.8 events per hour with a placebo. Those using CPAP machines saw a reduction of 30.4 events per hour with Zepbound, compared to 6 events per hour with a placebo.
Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist at Duke Health, noted that the findings highlight the importance of addressing obesity as a significant health problem, rather than just a cosmetic issue. The potential benefits of Zepbound in treating sleep apnea could also lead to increased insurance coverage for the weight-loss drug.
Lilly plans to share additional findings from the studies at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting in June and present the results to the FDA later this summer. Sleep apnea affects millions of American adults and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. The potential of Zepbound to address this issue could have far-reaching implications for public health.