Eli Lilly’s weight-loss medicine Zepbound has been shown to improve obstructive sleep apnea in obese individuals, according to a press statement issued Wednesday.
The medication reduced the frequency of irregular breathing episodes by up to 63% across both groups.
The study findings add to a growing body of clinical data indicating that popular GLP-1 medications like as Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO), open new tab Wegovy, offer medical advantages beyond diabetes and weight reduction.
Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized Wegovy to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in overweight or obese people who do not have diabetes.
Early trading saw shares of the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical rise 1.6% to $758.64. Lilly’s stock has increased 26% since January.
The National Council on Aging estimates that around 39 million persons in the United States suffer with obstructive sleep apnea.
It happens when a person’s upper airway becomes clogged while sleeping, preventing airflow throughout the night, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Obesity, which can restrict the airway, heightens a person’s risk.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and even death.
Wegovy was proven to lessen the risk of heart disease, therefore Medicare said last month that it will pay for medication for some patients.
Lilly said it hopes to offer further information about the study results at the American Diabetes Association meeting in June.
It intends to submit the findings to the Food and Drug Administration around mid-year.