Eli Lilly Australia’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a medication commonly used for the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity, has now been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
This use expansion by the TGA makes Mounjaro the first and only medicine for obstructive sleep apnoea in Australia.
About Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a dual-acting therapy that works by mimicking two natural hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
Its role in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea is said to be by virtue of weight reduction, easing pressure on the chest and abdomen and reducing excess fat around the neck and throat.
‘A significant milestone in treatment of OSA’
“This marks a significant milestone in the treatment of this debilitating sleep disorder,” says Professor Brendon Yee, Respiratory and Sleep Physician at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research who was involved in a major clinical trial of Mounjaro for OSA.
“For the first time, people with weight-related obstructive sleep apnoea can be treated with a medicine that addresses the underlying cause of their condition.
“The most effective way to treat most obstructive sleep apnoea is to treat the underlying excess weight, which in turn reduces the risk of a host of complications, from type 2 diabetes to heart disease.”
About OSA
Affecting around 780,000 Australian adults, OSA is said to occur when a person’s upper airway becomes blocked, causing breathing to be repeatedly interrupted during sleep.
The condition is a known risk factor for life-threatening heart disease and can seriously impact physical, mental and social functioning.
OSA increases the risk of serious health complications, including:
- heart disease,
- stroke,
- type 2 diabetes,
- depression,
- motor vehicle, and
- workplace accidents.
Obesity is said to contribute to the development and severity of OSA in several ways.
Most commonly this involves excess weight obstructing the neck and tongue so that the airway is narrowed and prone to collapse during sleep, or through increased abdominal girth compressing the chest wall and reducing the ability of the lungs to expand and contract.
‘Too many people with OSA suffer in silence’
Current treatment options for OSA are limited.
Treatment usually involves the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine when attempting sleep. If that does not provide sufficient relief, surgery may be required.
According to Dr Moira Junge, CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation, many people with obstructive sleep apnoea go without treatment due to a lack of effective medicines.
“Too many people with obstructive sleep apnoea suffer in silence, so a new treatment option will be warmly welcomed by patients and doctors,” says Dr Junge.
