Eli Lilly's daily weight-loss pill reduces sleep apnoea symptoms, trial finds

OPA WIRE, Nov 9 (OPA) — A once-daily weight-loss pill developed by Eli Lilly reduced breathing interruptions by about 18 per hour in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, according to clinical trial findings presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago. The international research evaluated 712 adults with a body mass index of 27 or higher who suffered from the condition, which causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep and raises the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Participants taking orforglipron experienced significant improvements in blood pressure, oxygen levels, and overall sleep quality. Blood pressure fell by approximately seven points after a year on the medication, compared to smaller reductions observed in the placebo group. The drug also reduced episodes of low blood oxygen levels during sleep by up to 51 per cent, while participants lost an average of 11 per cent of their body weight.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is frequently linked to excess fat around the neck and throat, which can narrow airways and cause them to collapse during sleep. The standard treatment remains a continuous positive airway pressure machine, but nearly half of patients refuse or stop using the devices due to discomfort. Orforglipron was approved by UK health officials in August for weight management and type 2 diabetes, though it is not yet authorized specifically for sleep apnoea.

Dr Vaishnavi Kundel, director of the Sleep Fellowship at Icahn School of Medicine in New York and lead author of the study, noted that the medication could provide a promising oral treatment option for overweight patients. Researchers cautioned that the pill is not intended to replace CPAP therapy for all patients and that further study is required to determine whether the treatment directly reduces the incidence of heart attacks or strokes.