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Adults with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea and excess weight had significantly fewer episodes of breathing interruptions while sleeping after taking the daily oral GLP-1 medication orforglipron for one year, compared with adults in the placebo group, according to new, independent, preliminary late-breaking science presented Monday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago.

After one year, in addition to improvements in sleep apnea severity, participants taking orforglipron experienced significant improvements in sleep apnea-related drops in blood oxygen levels, body weight, inflammatory markers and blood pressure, and reported better sleep.

"If approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea, orforglipron could be a promising oral pharmacologic option for people with overweight or obesity and this condition. A convenient daily pill may help expand access to treatment for sleep apnea, and it could potentially be used with CPAP or other therapies to better meet individual patients' needs," said the study's presenting author, Vaishnavi Kundel, M.D., M.Sc., an associate professor of medicine and program director of the Sleep Fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

"Fewer interruptions in breathing during the night may allow for more restful sleep, and waking up more refreshed and having more energy through the day could help improve quality of life."

Researchers say these are the first large trials of an oral medication for obstructive sleep apnea in people with overweight or obesity.

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