An existing drug has shown it can significantly improve the quality of sleep for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), so much so that many trial participants were able to hang up their . It could be the first therapeutic to effectively treat the condition that affects an estimated 936 million people worldwide. In a study of 469 participants with OSA and weight issues, researchers from the University of California San Diego's School of Medicine trialed the use of tirzepatide to improve sleep and quality of life.
Currently, this drug is best known in treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and is sold under the brand names and . "This study marks a significant milestone in the treatment of OSA, offering a promising new therapeutic option that addresses both respiratory and metabolic complications," said lead author Atul Malhotra, MD, professor of medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and director of sleep medicine at UC San Diego Health. The participants, recruited form nine countries including the US and Australia, were part of two Phase III, double-blinded, randomized, controled trials.
They all had moderate-to-severe OSA and clinical obesity, and some regularly used a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, while others were not receiving any treatment for their sleep disorder. Each week, the participants received either 10 mg or 15 mg of via injection, or a placebo, and monitored for 52 weeks. Evaluation at the end of.
