FDA Approves Medication for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

First OSA drug treatment for obese adults offers new hope alongside diet and exercise.

The FDA recently approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first drug treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity, to be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Zepbound reduces body weight by targeting hormone receptors that suppress appetite, which in turn improves OSA symptoms.

Director Sally Seymour of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated the “approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”

The approval is based on two placebo-controlled studies involving 469 adults that demonstrated significant reductions in OSA events and body weight after 52 weeks of treatment. Lilly and Co. received FDA approval for the drug, which had been granted Fast Track, Priority Review, and Breakthrough Therapy designations.

As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…

  • For Director Seymour to seek God’s guidance as she oversees the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
  • For FDA Commissioner Califf to be led by the Lord as he heads the agency’s approval processes.

Sources: Food and Drug Administration

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