Breakthrough Weight-loss Drug Shows Promise in Treating Sleep Apnea

Key Takeaway

• Eli Lilly's tirzepatide shows up to two-thirds reduction in sleep apnea severity, potentially aiding 20 million Americans.
• Positive trial results may boost insurance coverage for tirzepatide; shares rose 2.6% in pre-market trading.
• Trial highlights tirzepatide as a potential first pharmaceutical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea's underlying disease.

Breakthrough in Sleep Apnea Treatment

Eli Lilly announced significant results from a late-stage clinical trial for its weight-loss drug tirzepatide, showing a substantial reduction in sleep apnea problems among adults with obesity. The drug, marketed under the names Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro for diabetes, demonstrated up to nearly two-thirds reduction in the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. This development could potentially benefit the estimated 20 million Americans suffering from moderate to severe forms of the condition. Jeff Emmick, Eli Lilly’s senior vice-president of product development, highlighted the critical unmet need in treating obstructive sleep apnea, noting that 85% of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Insurance Coverage and Market Impact

The positive trial results are expected to bolster Eli Lilly's efforts to secure broader insurance coverage for tirzepatide, including from private insurers and the US federal health insurance program, Medicare. Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated their policy to cover weight loss medicines for separate medical conditions, such as heart disease, which could pave the way for tirzepatide's inclusion. The drug's list price stands at $1,060 for a four-week supply. Following the announcement, shares in Eli Lilly saw a 2.6% increase in pre-market trading, reflecting the market's optimistic reception of the potential expansion of tirzepatide's applications.

Clinical Trial Insights

The trial results, set to be fully presented at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting in June, showed that tirzepatide significantly reduced the number of airway blockage events associated with sleep apnea. In one study, tirzepatide achieved a reduction of 27.4 events per hour among patients not using CPAP therapy, compared to a 4.8 event reduction for the placebo group. Another study showed a reduction of 30.4 events per hour for patients using CPAP therapy, against a six-event reduction for the placebo group. These findings underscore tirzepatide's potential as the first pharmaceutical treatment targeting the underlying disease of obstructive sleep apnea, beyond the symptomatic treatment offered by CPAP machines.

Management Quotes

• Jeff Emmick, Senior Vice-President of Product Development at Eli Lilly:

  "Addressing this unmet need head-on is critical, and while there are pharmaceutical treatments for the excessive sleepiness associated with [obstructive sleep apnoea], tirzepatide has the potential to be the first pharmaceutical treatment for the underlying disease."