Weight-Loss Drugs May Help Sleep Apnea and Arthritis

In sleep apnea, people stop breathing for brief periods of time, depriving the body and brain of oxygen, which can drive up blood pressure, contribute to atrial fibrillation, place added burden on the heart, and even sometimes lead to stroke. 

Weight is one of the strongest risk factors for sleep apnea. Excess weight can restrict airways around the neck, throat, and chest, so losing weight can reduce the number of sleep apnea episodes.

Though Foundayo is only approved for chronic weight management—not yet for obstructive sleep apnea—the data suggest it’s the third product from Lilly to address the condition. Its two GLP-1 medications—Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss—are already approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea in those groups. But both of those medicines require patients to inject themselves weekly; Foundayo is a pill, which could provide patients with a more convenient option if the FDA approves it for that purpose. Ken Custer, executive vice president and president of cardiometabolic health at Lilly, says that by the end of 2026, the company plans to submit a request to the FDA for Foundayo’s approval in people who are overweight or obese who also have obstructive sleep apnea.