FDA Approves Zepbound: First Drug for Sleep Apnea

[{"selector":"#anim-4c989574-9453-4620-9fd4-4d4ecae8c98e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.7942244181963076%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7b0a720-c1a2-4d0c-9cd3-bd15e1732201","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29f09ead-0e5c-4604-857c-1518e783f927","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10acdd97-11f0-4217-9c76-795b47026985","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] FDA has approved Zepbound, marking the first medication authorized for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Photo Source: Blacktupelo (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Doctors say that FDA’s approval of Zepbound marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

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The trials demonstrated that after 52 weeks of treatment, patients receiving Zepbound experienced measurable improvements in their apnea-hypopnea index.

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[{"selector":"#anim-612b287d-5fcf-4739-b913-68d20cfbc4d2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-12.85895280603674%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5e36d91-6a68-48b1-80a4-c5268f058b67","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9072359b-be90-4d74-b14c-364eb522ac8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8856387-1e8c-4002-b377-71e74d2defc5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Patients not using CPAP machines showed approximately 25 fewer AHI breathing events per hour with Zepbound, compared to only five fewer events with placebo. Photo Source: Russ (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Weight loss results showed participants lost about 18% of their body weight, on average, in the first trial and about 20% in the second.

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[{"selector":"#anim-486c3437-b52a-4975-9a07-23d2858c1e81 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.2812500439897576%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-580ba20c-d50f-4ebd-b610-786d61fa8821","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-244ad343-0f8d-4ac7-a6fd-d8bac165383d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f763e5c-03c4-42b2-a3b6-e8c1b55d4f0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Experts say that the availability of Zepbound as an option is relevant given that OSA affects approximately 30 million Americans, with obesity being a major contributing factor. Photo Source: Photo By Kaboompics.com (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-3d851592-85b8-4811-9bf9-90d3b914b03a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a713999-61a1-43c7-96db-f40a1d23b253","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3de31e48-c3e8-4943-a6e5-53eb4d806e59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5e2f026-9756-4e96-a1c5-e6fb637a2d1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The FDA reports several side effects, including gastrointestinal issues, injection site reactions, fatigue, hair loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc. Photo Source: Wendy Burchfield (CC BY 2.0)

Medicare’s current policy excludes coverage for weight-loss medications and will only be available to those above 65 to treat sleep apnea.

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FDA Approves Zepbound: First Drug for Sleep Apnea

Doctors say that FDA’s approval of Zepbound marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

The trials demonstrated that after 52 weeks of treatment, patients receiving Zepbound experienced measurable improvements in their apnea-hypopnea index.

Weight loss results showed participants lost about 18% of their body weight, on average, in the first trial and about 20% in the second.

Medicare’s current policy excludes coverage for weight-loss medications and will only be available to those above 65 to treat sleep apnea.

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