Eli Lilly GLP-1 pill Foundayo helped alleviate sleep apnea, studies show

Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.

Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 pill Foundayo helped alleviate sleep apnea in two late-stage studies, but it doesn’t appear as effective as Lilly’s injectable drug Zepbound.

In a one-year trial of patients who weren’t receiving PAP therapy, a form of ventilation, those on Foundayo saw a reduction of 17.8 “events” per hour on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measure of the number of times breathing stops and becomes restricted while sleeping. That compares with a reduction of 4.5 events among those on placebo.

Additionally, 28% of treated patients achieved remission or mild disease, compared with 13% in the placebo group, according to data presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association and published in JAMA.

STAT+ Exclusive Story

STAT+