The first drug for obstructive sleep apnea has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On December 20, the FDA announced that the agency had approved Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe disease obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
The drug should be combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the FDA noted.
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Sally Seymour, MD, director of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy and Critical Care at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in Washington, DC, welcomed the approval in an announcement.
Happy and healthy senior man sleeping deeply on his left side without snoring (iStock)
“Today’s approval represents the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Seymour wrote. “This is a major advance for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”
According to the FDA, OSA occurs when the upper airways become blocked, causing pauses in breathing during sleep. The condition is more common in people who have this Overweight or obesity.
Similar to semaglutide treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound activates receptors for hormones secreted by the gut (GLP-1 and GIP). Reduce appetite and food intake.
Approximately 30 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea
Studies show that Zepbound “also improves OSA” by reducing body weight, the FDA noted.
In a 52-week study, participants treated with Zepbound experienced a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in apnea or hypopnea events,” and a large proportion of participants achieved remission or “resolution of symptoms.”
Studies show that Zepbound improves obstructive sleep apnea by reducing body weight. (iStock)
Patients treated with Zepbound also reported a significant decrease in body weight, according to the FDA.
According to reports, the drug may cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach discomfort and pain, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions (typically fever and rash), belching, hair loss, etc gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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While Zepbound causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, it is not known whether it causes these tumors in humans. Therefore, it should not be used by patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, according to the FDA.
The agency encourages all OSA patients to do so Consult a doctor before taking Zepbound and to monitor for any complications.
A sleep expert called the FDA’s approval a “promising step forward for the millions of people suffering from this disease.” (iStock)
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, senior behavior specialist and licensed RAND Corporation clinical psychologist in Utah called the FDA approval “promising progress for the millions of people suffering from this disease.”
“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been proven to reduce apnea events.”
About 30 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, Troxel told Fox News Digital.
While the most common treatment for sleep apnea – positive airway pressure (PAP) – is “highly effective” in treating the condition, up to 50% of patients are “non-adherent,” she said.
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“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been shown to reduce apnea events,” noted Troxel.
“For obese individuals with moderate to severe sleep apnea, this new treatment option could provide an important alternative or adjunctive treatment, particularly for those struggling with sleep apnea therapies such as positive airway pressure.”
People with a history of severe allergic reactions to tirzepatide should not use Zepbound, the FDA warned in a news release. (iStock)
Troxel added that treating sleep apnea is “critically important for more than just the patient.” Health and well-beingbut also for their bed partners, who are often the “hidden victims” of untreated sleep apnea, as loud snoring and gasping for air are the main symptoms,” she said.
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Dr. William Lu, medical director of Dreem Health in San Francisco, told Fox News Digital that obesity and sleep apnea are “two of the most common health conditions affecting Americans today.”
“We still need to focus on changing the diet and health habits of many, but this is a fantastic start.”
“And they go hand in hand,” he said. “For those patients who are eligible and have no contraindications, tirzepatide has the opportunity to be a generational drug that can help people lose weight, reduce the severity of sleep apnea and provide improvement.” general health.”
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“We still need to focus on changing the diet and health habits of many, but this is a fantastic start.”
Getting tested for sleep apnea is “vital to your health,” Lu said, and could also be a requirement for coverage for the medication.
Fox News Digital reached out to Eli Lilly for comment.
