Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, Zepbound, has shown promising results in late-stage trials as a potential treatment for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that affects millions of people in the United States, with many cases going undiagnosed. The condition can lead to serious complications such as hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. Currently, the main treatment options for sleep apnea are cumbersome and uncomfortable machines that provide positive airway pressure.
However, Zepbound offers a potential breakthrough in the treatment of sleep apnea. In two late-stage clinical trials, Zepbound was found to be more effective than a placebo at reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with obesity. The initial results have sparked hope for the estimated 80 million Americans suffering from sleep apnea, especially the 20 million who have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.
Dr. Jeff Emmick, Eli Lilly’s senior vice president of product development, highlighted the importance of addressing the unmet need for a pharmaceutical treatment for sleep apnea. While there are pharmaceutical treatments available for excessive sleepiness associated with sleep apnea, Zepbound has the potential to be the first pharmaceutical treatment for the underlying disease itself.
Zepbound, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, is already approved for weight management under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes. However, weight loss drugs like Zepbound are not typically covered by insurance, unlike diabetes drugs. The positive data from the trials in sleep apnea patients could potentially pave the way for Zepbound to gain Medicare Part D coverage, allowing more patients to access this treatment.
The trials also showed that Zepbound helped patients lose around 20% of their weight. While this is encouraging, it is worth noting that men tend to achieve less weight loss than women with therapies like Zepbound. Despite this, the results exceeded expectations, with Zepbound leading to an overall reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of nearly 63%, compared to a decrease of more than 6% for the placebo.
Eli Lilly’s success with Zepbound has caught the attention of its main rival, Novo Nordisk, which is also studying its own weight loss and diabetes drugs in patients with sleep apnea. The competition between these pharmaceutical giants could lead to further advancements in the treatment of sleep apnea.
Overall, the potential of Zepbound as a treatment for sleep apnea is a significant development in the field of medicine. With millions of people suffering from this condition, a pharmaceutical solution could greatly improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of serious complications. The promising results from the trials bring hope for better treatment options for sleep apnea patients in the near future.
