Introduction
Eli Lilly has good news about its weight-loss pill. The pill is called Foundayo. In a big test, it cut how bad sleep apnea was for patients. Sleep apnea is a problem where breathing stops and starts during sleep. Lilly plans to ask for approval by the end of the year.
What Happened
Lilly shared results from a late-stage trial on Monday. A late-stage trial is one of the last big tests before a drug can be sold. The trial was called ATTAIN-OSA. It tested Foundayo in people with sleep apnea who also have obesity or are overweight. Obesity means a person weighs much more than is healthy.
Doctors measure sleep apnea with a score called AHI. It counts how many times breathing stops or gets shallow in each hour of sleep. The trial tested Foundayo in two groups of patients. One group did not use a breathing machine at night. The other group used a breathing machine along with the pill.
Why It Happened
Foundayo helps the body in two ways. It lowers weight. It also helps control blood sugar. When people lose weight, their sleep apnea often gets better. Extra weight can press on the airway during sleep.
In the first group, patients had 21.1 fewer breathing stops or shallow breaths per hour. Their AHI score fell 43.8% in all. Patients in this group also lost about 11% of their body weight over 52 weeks. In the second group, patients had 18.3 fewer breathing stops or shallow breaths per hour. Their AHI score fell about 27.5%.
Why It Matters
Sleep apnea is very common. About 80 million people age 20 and older in the US have it. Bad sleep apnea can raise the risk of heart problems. It can also make people feel tired all day.
Lilly already sells a weekly shot for sleep apnea called Zepbound. Zepbound was the first medicine approved for sleep apnea in December 2024. A pill gives people one more choice. Lilly raised its sales outlook to $92 billion in October as demand for its weight-loss drugs soars.
What Happens Next
Lilly plans to file for approval by the end of the year. The FDA is the US group that checks if a medicine is safe to sell. If the FDA says yes, doctors could give Foundayo to patients with sleep apnea.
Lilly shares rose 2.85% on Monday after the news. A share is a small piece of a company. Investors will watch to see if the FDA approves the pill. They will also watch sales of Foundayo, which launched in April for type 2 diabetes.
Final Thoughts
This is a strong result for a pill. It helped sleep apnea and weight at the same time. The side effects were mostly mild stomach problems. About 12% of patients in the first group stopped the pill because of side effects.
The next step is the FDA’s decision. That will come after Lilly files its papers. A pill for sleep apnea could help millions of people.
Key Figures
- No breathing machine: 21.1 fewer breathing stops per hour; AHI down 43.8%.
- With breathing machine: 18.3 fewer breathing stops per hour; AHI down about 27.5%.
- Weight loss in the first group: about 11% of body weight over 52 weeks.
- People with sleep apnea in the US: about 80 million age 20 and older.
- Lilly shares: up 2.85% on Monday.
Quick Questions
What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is Eli Lilly’s daily weight-loss pill. It is also called orforglipron. It launched in April for type 2 diabetes.
How much did Foundayo help sleep apnea?
Patients had 21.1 fewer breathing stops per hour in one group, and 18.3 fewer in the other. Their AHI scores fell 43.8% and about 27.5%.
When could the pill be approved for sleep apnea?
Lilly plans to file for FDA approval by the end of the year. The FDA is the US group that checks if a medicine is safe to sell.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Sources: CNBC — Eli Lilly Foundayo pill cuts sleep apnea severity — and Eli Lilly’s press release on the ATTAIN-OSA trial results.
Photo: Pexels.
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