Summary

The FDA has approved Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in people with obesity, marking the first medication for this condition.

Clinical trials showed Zepbound users had 25 fewer breathing interruptions per hour, lost 20% of their body weight, and up to half no longer had OSA symptoms after a year.

This approval is expected to expand insurance coverage, including Medicare, for patients with both obesity and OSA.

It offers an alternative to CPAP devices, the current standard treatment.