By Colin Kellaher


Eli Lilly said a pair of late-stage studies showed that its blockbuster weight-loss tirzepatide significantly reduced the severity of sleep apnea in overweight adults.

The company on Wednesday said tirzepatide, which met all primary and key secondary endpoints in the Phase 3 studies, reduced sleep apnea severity by up to nearly two-thirds in adults with obstructive sleep apnea and obesity.

The Indianapolis drugmaker, which markets tirzepatide for chronic weight management as Zepbound in the U.S. and Mounjaro in some international markets, said it plans to submit the study data for global regulatory reviews.

Eli Lilly, which reported more than $5 billion in combined sales of Mounjaro and Zepbound last year, said that while there are pharmaceutical treatments for the excessive sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, tirzepatide has the potential to be the first pharmaceutical treatment for the underlying disease.


Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-17-24 0657ET