First treatment for sleep apnea

Results from a clinical trial of nearly 500 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrate the treatment’s potential to improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide living with OSA.

“This study marks an important milestone in the treatment of OSA, offering a promising new therapeutic option that addresses both respiratory and metabolic complications,” said Atul Malhotra, senior study author and professor of medicine at the University of California School of Medicine. San Diego and Director of the Department of Sleep Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (USA).

Obstructive sleep apnea can reduce oxygen levels in the blood and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications such as hypertension and heart disease.

Malhotra’s team conducted two randomized, double-blind, controlled phase III studies involving 469 clinically obese participants with moderate to severe OSA.

Participants recruited in nine countries either used or did not use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the most common treatment for sleep apnea. Patients received injections of 10 or 15 mg of the drug or placebo, and the effect of tirzepatide was assessed over 52 weeks.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by persistent interruptions in breathing during sleep due to lack of oxygen. A disorder that affects about 6% of the world’s population, especially men (the incidence among the male population is more than twice as high), and which is far from limited to a deterioration in the quality of life of the remaining victims. is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as cancer and especially cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, myocardial infarction and stroke. Recent studies indicate that the number of patients with OSA in the world is approaching 936 million.. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices inhale air through a “mask” and keep the upper airway open, making it easier for patients to breathe and rest.

The results showed that tirzepatide significantly reduced the number of interruptions in breathing during sleep, a key indicator for measuring the severity of OSA.

This improvement, the authors note, was much greater than that seen in participants who received a placebo.

Another important aspect is that some participants who took the drug did not require CPAP therapy.

Improvement of the cardiovascular system

There is ample evidence to suggest that drug therapies targeting both sleep apnea and obesity are beneficial rather than treating each condition separately.

In addition, drug therapy improved other aspects associated with OSA, such as reduction in cardiovascular risk factors and improvement in body weight.

Historically, treatment for OSA has included the use of devices during sleep, such as a CPAP machine, to relieve breathing difficulties and symptoms. However, Malhotra assures that “its effectiveness depends on constant use.”

“This new drug treatment offers a more affordable alternative for people who cannot tolerate or adhere to existing treatments,” he adds. “We believe thatCombining CPAP therapy with weight loss will be optimal for reducing cardiometabolic risk and symptoms.“

In addition, tirzepatide may also target specific mechanisms underlying sleep apnea, which could lead to more personalized and effective treatment.

In his opinion, pharmacological therapy for OSA represents significant progress in this area. “This means we can offer an innovative solution that represents hope and a new standard of care to help countless people and their families who have struggled with the limitations of existing treatments,” says Malhotra. “This breakthrough opens the door to a new era in the treatment of OSA for people diagnosed with obesity, potentially changing the way we treat this common disease on a global scale.”