Eli Lilly’s Zepbound Receives FDA Approval as First Prescription Drug for Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults with Obesity

FDA Approval:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity3 5.

Clinical Trial Results:
Zepbound significantly reduced episodes of obstructive sleep apnea in overweight or obese participants, with a mean reduction of up to 62.8% on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)4 5.

Weight Loss:
Adults taking Zepbound experienced significant weight loss, averaging up to 20% of their body weight, which contributed to improvements in OSA symptoms3 4.

Disease Resolution:
Up to 50% of adults taking Zepbound no longer had symptoms associated with OSA after one year, and many patients achieved disease resolution as defined by an AHI of fewer than five events per hour3 5.

Impact on Treatment:
This approval marks a significant advancement in the treatment of OSA, offering a new pharmacological option for patients with obesity, and could potentially change the landscape of sleep apnea treatment1 2.