Sleep apnea reduced in people who took weight-loss drugs, reports Eli Lilly

The company reported results from clinical trials involving Zepbound, an obesity drug in the same class as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.

Pharmaceutical maker Eli Lilly announced Wednesday that its obesity drug tirzepatide, or Zepbound, provides significant relief to overweight or obese people suffering from obstructive apnea sleep or episodes of respiratory arrest during sleep.

Results from two one-year clinical trials could offer a new treatment option to some 20 million of Americans diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Most people with this condition do not realize they have it, according to the drug's manufacturer. People with sleep apnea have difficulty getting enough sleep and face an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and dementia.

The results of the study have not been confirmed. was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Eli Lilly only provided a summary of its results: Companies are required to announce results that could affect their stock prices as soon as they are obtained. Dr. Daniel M. Skovronsky, Eli Lilly's chief scientific officer, said the company is still analyzing the data and will provide detailed results at the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in June.

But experts not affiliated with Eli Lilly or involved in its studies were encouraged by the summary.

"It's great," said Dr. Henry Klar Yaggi, director of the Yale Centers for Sleep Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

He added that the treatment the most common, a CPAP machine that forces air into the airways, keeping them open during sleep, is effective. About 60 percent of patients who use continuous positive airway pressure continue to use it, he said.

We have difficulty recovering the contents of the article.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and sign in to your Times account, or subscribe to the entire Times.

Thank you for your patience while we let's check access.

Already subscribed?