Orforglipron improved sleep apnea in two phase 3 trials

The daily oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron improved sleep apnea in two phase 3 trials of adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and overweight or obesity. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting and published in JAMA.

At week 52, the mean change in apnea-hypopnea index, which measures breathing interruptions per hour, was -17.8 with orforglipron and -4.5 with placebo among participants not receiving positive airway pressure (PAP). Among PAP users, the changes were -17.3 and -5.3, respectively. Participants taking orforglipron also had reductions in weight, blood pressure and inflammation markers. Gastrointestinal effects were the most commonly reported side effects and were mostly mild to moderate, according to the reports.

Eli Lilly plans to submit the results to the FDA by the end of the year to seek approval for treating sleep apnea, CNBC reported. Researchers said the medicine could be used with PAP or other therapies, rather than replacing them.