Lilly’s Foundayo eases sleep apnea in two trials

Eli Lilly said its daily obesity pill Foundayo reduced obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in two late-stage trials, and plans to seek U.S. approval for the condition by year-end. In one study, patients not using positive airway pressure therapy had 17.8 fewer breathing disruptions per hour on average, compared with 4.5 fewer for placebo; 28% reached remission or mild disease, versus 13% on placebo. The pill’s results add to evidence that GLP-1 drugs may help treat sleep apnea, though Foundayo appears less effective than Lilly’s injectable Zepbound, which is already approved for the condition. Other potential treatments remain in development: Pfizer is recruiting for a Phase 3 study of a monthly injectable, while Incannex is testing an oral therapy that showed promising results in a Phase 2 trial. Those studies have not established that the investigational treatments work, and positive-airway-pressure therapy remains a common treatment option, despite adherence challenges.