Eli Lilly announced promising results from late-stage trials of its obesity pill Foundayo, which demonstrated a significant reduction in the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among patients with obesity. The company plans to seek U.S. approval for the medication by the end of the year.
The trials involved two independent studies with a total of 712 participants, where those taking Foundayo experienced a notable decrease in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a key measure of OSA severity. Specifically, patients not using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy saw an average reduction of 21.1 AHI events per hour, compared to just 4.8 for the placebo group.
Additionally, 31.5% of participants on Foundayo achieved remission or improvement to mild OSA. For those already on PAP therapy, Foundayo also provided significant benefits, with an average reduction of 18.3 AHI events per hour. The drug also contributed to an average weight loss of approximately 11% across all groups and reduced the sleep apnea-specific hypoxic burden.
While the safety profile was consistent with previous trials, some participants experienced gastrointestinal side effects, leading to a discontinuation rate of 12% for those not using PAP therapy.
This advancement not only highlights the potential of Foundayo in treating OSA but also reinforces Eli Lilly's position in the competitive landscape of obesity treatments, especially as the condition affects nearly 1 billion adults worldwide, including 80 million in the U.S. alone