By Mariam Sunny
Nov 9 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly said on Monday its oral weight-loss drug Foundayo significantly reduced breathing interruptions during sleep in obese adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, meeting the main goal of a late-stage study.
Shares of the drugmaker rose over 3%.
The results build on Lilly’s early lead in sleep apnea after its blockbuster injectable obesity medicine Zepbound became the first approved drug for the common sleep disorder, potentially offering a more convenient oral alternative if approved.
In the 712-patient trial, Foundayo reduced breathing interruptions by up to 44% after 52 weeks in patients not using positive airway pressure therapy and by 27.5% in those using PAP therapy, Lilly said.
Participants taking Foundayo also lost about 28 pounds on average over the study period, regardless of whether they used PAP therapy.
Obstructive sleep apnea, which affects about a billion people worldwide, is typically treated with PAP therapy, which uses a mask to deliver a steady flow of air that keeps the airway open during sleep.
Approved for weight loss earlier this year, Foundayo belongs to the GLP-1 class of drugs. Lilly plans to seek US approval for the sleep apnea indication by the end of 2026.
Positive results were largely expected, Citi analyst Geoff Meacham said, adding that an expanded approval could create another reimbursement opportunity and support Foundayo uptake, particularly among patients preferring oral treatment.
Foundayo also reduced sleep apnea-related oxygen deprivation – a measure of how much and how long oxygen levels drop during sleep – by 55.9% in participants not using PAP therapy and by 45.8% in those using PAP therapy.
The trial involved two independent studies, one involving 363 participants who were unable or unwilling to use PAP therapy and another with 349 participants who were on PAP therapy before and during the study.
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
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