Eli Lilly Sets Standard with Approval of Zepbound for Sleep Apnea and Obesity

Eli Lilly has gained a significant advantage in the booming weight loss drug market with the approval of its new medication Zepbound by US regulators. Zepbound is used to treat adults with both sleep apnea and obesity, as the company stated in a late announcement on Friday. With the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Zepbound can now be used to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in obese adults. Experts predict that the demand for anti-obesity medications in the US could rise to over $100 billion annually by 2030. While Eli Lilly is in the spotlight with positive news, the European competitor Novo Nordisk suffered a setback: After disappointing test results for its latest obesity drug, the stock lost more than 20 percent of its value on Friday. Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President of Eli Lilly, emphasized that almost half of the patients in clinical studies with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea "experienced such significant improvements that they no longer showed symptoms" after taking Zepbound. Sleep apnea is often accompanied by symptoms such as snoring, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. Zepbound will be the first prescription medication for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity, an area previously treated mainly by medical devices such as CPAP machines. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, an estimated 12 percent of US adults are affected by obstructive sleep apnea, of which about 80 percent are undiagnosed. Other pharmaceutical companies are also working to expand the applications of their weight loss medications. Novo Nordisk, for example, has filed for FDA approval of Wegovy as a treatment for chronic kidney disease. Eli Lilly's shares rose 1 percent in after-hours trading on Friday. This year, the company's stock has already increased in value by 32 percent.