Retatrutide Reduces Sleep Apnea in Major Phase 3 Trials
An experimental weight-loss drug from Eli Lilly may offer a new treatment approach for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Retatrutide, which has drawn attention for its weight-loss results, showed significant benefits for people with OSA in two Phase 3 clinical trials published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The trials tested once-weekly retatrutide injections over 80 weeks:
- TRIUMPH-1-OSA: 243 participants without type 2 diabetes.
- TRIUMPH-2-OSA: 448 participants with type 2 diabetes.
Across all doses, retatrutide significantly reduced the number of breathing interruptions per hour of sleep compared with placebo. By the end of the trials, up to 50% of participants had OSA that was classified as mild. Participants also lost an average of 12.1% to 22.2% of their body weight, compared with less weight loss in the placebo groups.
The findings were also presented at the 28th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society. Although further research is needed to assess long-term safety, the results suggest retatrutide could potentially become a treatment option for people with obesity and sleep apnea. Retatrutide is not yet approved for any use.
Source: Medical News Today – October 30, 2026