On the 20th (local time), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 'Zepbound,' an obesity treatment injection, as a treatment for sleep apnea.
Foreign media, including The New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, reported that Eli Lilly's obesity treatment 'Zepbound' has been approved as a treatment for mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea, marking the first case approved for this condition.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is impaired during sleep, leading to a lack of oxygen. If left untreated, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, strokes, and dementia increases. However, existing treatment methods for sleep apnea, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, have limitations as patients must wear them while sleeping.
In June, two studies revealed that some individuals using Zepbound experienced significant alleviation of their sleep apnea symptoms, with reports indicating a 62.8% improvement in symptoms. Following this, Eli Lilly completed its application to the FDA to add sleep disorder indications. The company anticipates that this approval will not only increase the usage of Zepbound but also gradually expand insurance coverage.
Zepbound, which received FDA approval in November last year as an obesity treatment, is expected to be released in South Korea under the same active ingredient as the diabetes treatment 'Mounjaro.'