Eli Lilly reported positive results for its obesity pill against sleep apnea
Eli Lilly said its obesity pill Foundayo significantly reduced sleep-related breathing interruptions in two late-stage trials involving adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. The reductions were up to 44% among participants not using PAP therapy and 27.5% among those using it. Lilly plans to seek U.S. approval by year-end; STAT said it appeared less effective than Zepbound.
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Eli Lilly said Monday its obesity pill Foundayo significantly reduced breathing interruptions in adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in two late-stage studies, and plans to seek U.S. approval for the condition by the end of 2026. The 52-week program included 363 participants who did not use positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and 349 who continued it. In the non-PAP group, Foundayo reduced interruptions by 43.8%, compared with 4.3% on placebo; in the PAP group, the reduction was 27.5%. Lilly said participants taking the pill lost about 28 pounds on average across the studies. Foundayo was approved in the U.S. for obesity and launched in April. STAT said the pill appeared less effective than Lilly’s injectable Zepbound, which is approved in the U.S. for sleep apnea.
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Reporting behind this story
- Bloomberg — Lilly’s Obesity Pill Foundayo Helps Control Sleep Apnea in Study
- Reuters — Lilly's weight-loss pill improves sleep apnea in late-stage trial
- CNBC — Eli Lilly Foundayo pill cuts sleep apnea severity
- Quartz — Eli Lilly's Foundayo pill eases sleep apnea in late-stage trial
- WSAU News/Talk Radio (with Reuters) — Lilly’s weight-loss pill improves sleep apnea in late-stage trial | WSAU News/Talk 550 AM · 99.9 FM
- Demokratis — Eli Lilly Seeks Sleep Apnea Approval for Foundayo Pill
- statnews.com — Eli Lilly GLP-1 pill Foundayo helped alleviate sleep apnea, studies show