Results from two Phase 3 clinical trials conducted by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Macquarie University in Australia showed that the experimental weight-loss drug "retatrutide" helps reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in people who are overweight or obese, whether they have type 2 diabetes or not.
The Australian Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research stated on its website two days ago that the results, published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," were based on two clinical trials, "TRIUMPH-1-OSA" and "TRIUMPH-2-OSA," which showed a reduction in the number of breathing stops or airflow reductions during sleep among participants who received the drug weekly, compared to those who received a placebo, over a period of 80 weeks.
The first trial included 243 people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who were overweight or obese but did not have type 2 diabetes, while the second trial included 448 people with the same condition who had diabetes. Participants received subcutaneous injections of weekly doses of 4, 9, or 12 mg of the drug, or a placebo.
The results showed a reduction in the number of breathing stops or airflow reductions per hour during the first trial by an average of 34.3 times with a 9 mg dose and 31.7 times with a 12 mg dose, compared to 9.9 times in the placebo group. In the second trial, the reduction was 24.7 and 25.4 times per hour with the respective doses, compared to 10.3 times with the placebo, while the 4 mg dose showed less improvement.
Retatrutide works by activating three hormone receptors involved in regulating appetite and metabolism: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon. Therefore, it is classified as a triple hormone receptor agonist drug.
Researchers concluded that the drug achieved a greater reduction in sleep apnea severity compared to the placebo among participants in both trials. The results were presented at the 28th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society. The two studies were funded by Eli Lilly, the developer of the drug, which is still under clinical evaluation and has not yet received the necessary regulatory approvals for marketing.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to repeated blockage of the airway during sleep, leading to brief breathing stops or reduced airflow. It may be accompanied by snoring, sleep disturbances, and daytime drowsiness. This condition is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, with obesity being one of the most prominent risk factors associated with it.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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