Brett

Retatrutide’s sleep apnea results should be part of the conversation about what obesity treatment is worth. Two phase 3 trials published in NEJM followed adults with overweight or obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea for 80 weeks. Sleep apnea repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep. Researchers measure these episodes per hour. Participants started at averages of roughly 56 to 59. Across the treatment groups: - Without diabetes: 23 to 34 fewer episodes per hour, versus about 10 fewer on placebo. - With type 2 diabetes: 19 to 25 fewer, versus about 10 fewer on placebo. Accounting for the placebo improvement, the largest treatment differences were about 24 and 15 fewer episodes per hour, respectively. Average weight loss ranged from roughly 12% to 22% across the retatrutide groups. Gastrointestinal side effects were the most common. Retatrutide remains investigational. Results like this should matter when insurers evaluate obesity treatments. Improving a condition that disrupts someone’s breathing every night belongs in that decision alongside weight loss.