U.S. regulators have approved the first drug treatment for sleep apnea, allowing the use of a weight-loss medication to address the condition, which affects millions of Americans.
“This is a significant breakthrough for patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” stated Sally Seymour, an official with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in an announcement approving Zepbound for the treatment of moderate to severe sleep apnea in obese adults.
Developed by Eli Lilly, Zepbound is already approved for use in individuals who are obese or overweight and have related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
“Zepbound works by activating hormone receptors in the intestine to suppress appetite and reduce food intake,” the FDA explained. “By promoting weight loss, studies have shown that Zepbound also improves symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.”
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially dangerous condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep due to a blocked airway. It disrupts restful sleep and increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and depression. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep apnea affects approximately 30 million adults in the U.S.
The FDA has approved Zepbound for the treatment of “moderate to severe OSA in adults with obesity.”
Traditional treatments for sleep apnea include CPAP machines, which deliver a continuous stream of air through a mask to keep airways open, or surgical interventions.
In two clinical trials, Zepbound was found to reduce the frequency of sleep apnea episodes, likely due to the weight loss achieved by patients. Nearly half of the trial participants experienced such significant improvement that they no longer exhibited sleep apnea symptoms.
“This marks a critical step forward in reducing the burden of OSA and its associated health risks,” said Patrik Jonsson, a senior executive at Eli Lilly.
Zepbound is administered via weekly injections and is recommended alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.
The drug belongs to a new class of obesity treatments that mimic hormones involved in insulin secretion, appetite suppression, and slower stomach emptying. Other medications in this category include Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, which has been widely used since its U.S. approval in 2017.