Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound approved to treat sleep apnea in U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday cleared Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound as the first treatment for a common sleep disorder in the U.S.

Zepbound, whose scientific name is tirzepatide, has now been specifically approved for patients with both obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, a condition characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep.

This is the first time that Zepbound has been approved for an indication other than weight loss, which could help it gain wider insurance coverage.