The FDA has expanded approval of Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound to include treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea for people with obesity following a study that found beneficial results for patients who took the medication.
Zepbound’s newly expanded approval makes it the first medication to be cleared for treating the condition of sleep apnea.
In a study that followed people over a year, those who took Zepbound had at least 25 fewer breathing interruptions per hour while they slept, and found that up to half of the adults taking the medication no longer had obstructive sleep apnea symptoms at the end of the year. They also reportedly lost an average of 20% of their body weight.
The FDA’s expanded approval also means that insurance providers, including Medicare, will likely cover the medication for people with sleep apnea and obesity. Medicare is one of numerous providers that does not offer reimbursement to treat obesity alone.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that impairs breathing and sleep quality, and is often linked with obesity, as people tend to see their condition improve once they lose a significant amount of weight, which is likely one of the reasons Zepbound has helped ease the effects of sleep apnea. Currently, there is no medicine to directly treat obstructive sleep apnea, and it’s usually treated with a positive airway pressure device.
Common signs of sleep apnea include heavy snoring at night, long pauses in breathing while sleeping as well as excessive daytime sleepiness, forgetfulness and morning headaches. Research shows symptoms of the disorder can lead to significant medical problems.
In the US, obstructive sleep apnea is more common in men than women, with up to 34% of men having OSA compared to 17% of U.S. women, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
The newly expanded approval of Zepbound is intended for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who are also obese. According to Eli Lilly, about 15-20 million adults in the US are estimated to be living with the condition.
