Eli Lilly’s Zepbound Wins Historic FDA Approval for Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults with Obesity

FDA Approval:
Zepbound (tirzepatide) has been approved by the FDA as the first and only prescription medicine for treating moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity35.

Clinical Trial Results:
The SURMOUNT-OSA phase 3 clinical trials showed that Zepbound significantly reduced breathing disruptions in adults with OSA and obesity, both with and without positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy13.

Efficacy:
Zepbound led to 25-29 fewer breathing disruptions per hour compared to placebo, and up to 50% of adults on Zepbound experienced remission or mild, non-symptomatic OSA after one year3.

Weight Loss:
Adults on Zepbound lost an average of 18-20% of their body weight, translating to 45-50 pounds over one year3.

Comparison with Wegovy:
A separate study found that Zepbound was more effective in weight loss compared to Wegovy, with Zepbound users losing 20% of their body weight versus 14% for Wegovy users over 72 weeks4.

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/amid-duel-novos-wegovy-lillys-zepbound-homes-potential-fda-sleep-apnea-nod-year-end

3. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-zepbound-tirzepatide-as-the-first-and-only-prescription-medicine-for-moderate-to-severe-obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults-with-obesity-302337722.html

4. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/zepbound-leads-weight-loss-wegovy-new-study-finds/story?id=116427373

5. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/lillys-obesity-blockbuster-zepbound-scores-second-approval-landmark-fda-nod-obstructive