The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of the weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. This makes Zepbound the first drug treatment for the disorder, which affects 39 million adults in the United States. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, leading to fragmented and poor sleep. Obesity is a major contributor to sleep apnea, which can eventually lead to diabetes, heart issues, stroke, and brain damage if left untreated.
Zepbound, which shares the active ingredient of another Lilly drug called Mounjaro, showed promise in helping people with sleep apnea lose around 20% of their body weight on average. The drug has been approved based on two trials of individuals with obesity and moderate to severe sleep apnea.
Current treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include the use of PAP machines to keep the airway open during sleep. However, some patients do not tolerate these machines well, leading to a growing interest in drug options like Zepbound. Studies are ongoing to determine whether GLP-1 drugs, like Zepbound, can also help prevent Alzheimer’s, curb addiction, and delay kidney disease.
While the approval of Zepbound for sleep apnea is an important step forward, more research is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness compared to existing treatments like PAP therapy. Overall, the expanded approval of Zepbound provides a new potential option for individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea due to obesity.
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