FDA Approves Eli Lilly's Zepbound (Tirzepatide) as First Drug for Sleep Apnea

Dec 20, 2024, 09:37 PM

On December 20, the FDA approved Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, affecting approximately 39 million U.S. adults. Clinical trials showed that patients taking Zepbound experienced at least 25 fewer breathing interruptions per hour, and up to 50% had zero symptoms after one year of treatment. This landmark approval offers a new treatment option for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, a serious sleep-related breathing disorder.