STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Lilly’s Zepbound for sleep apnea, the FDA budget, and more
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all, what are the alternatives? While you ponder the possibilities, we invite you to join us for a delightful cup of stimulation. Our choice today is maple bourbon. Remember that no prescription is required. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits to help you on your way. Have a wonderful day, and please do stay in touch…
Eli Lilly reported positive results for its obesity drug Zepbound in obstructive sleep apnea, giving the medication a new edge in the highly competitive obesity market, STAT tells us. The results also pave the way for Zepbound to potentially become the first approved treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, a common disorder characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep. Obesity is a major risk factor of OSA, which is estimated to affect approximately 39 million U.S. adults, though many cases are undiagnosed, according to the National Council on Aging. Getting approval for indications other than weight loss would help Lilly in its attempts to expand insurance coverage.
Sage Therapeutics will stop development of its experimental drug to treat Parkinson’s disease after the treatment failed a mid-stage study, sending the company’s shares tumbling 36% before stock trading opened, Reuters reports. Parkinson’s disease, a progressive movement disorder of the nervous system, affects about 1 million people in the U.S. The failure is the latest hurdle for Sage Therapeutics after the U.S. health regulator last year approved the company’s and partner Biogen’s pill Zurzuvae as a treatment for postpartum depression, but rejected it for clinical depression, which is a much larger market.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
