A new nightly pill could offer a significant alternative for individuals suffering from sleep apnea, a condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. A study indicates that the experimental drug, AD109, can decrease breathing interruptions by approximately 44 percent.
The disorder affects an estimated eight million people in the UK alone, leading to symptoms such as loud snoring, gasping, and daytime fatigue. In the long term, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Current standard treatment involves a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which uses air pressure to keep airways open. However, many patients find CPAP machines uncomfortable, leading to poor adherence, with nearly half either discontinuing use or never starting.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center developed AD109, a combination of two existing medications: aroxylbutynin and atomoxetine. The drug is designed to strengthen throat muscles, thereby reducing the likelihood of airway collapse during sleep.
The six-month clinical trial involved 646 adults with mild to severe sleep apnea across more than 60 sites in the US and Canada. Participants in the trial were those who had refused or could not tolerate CPAP therapy. The study found that patients taking AD109 experienced a significant reduction in breathing interruptions per hour, alongside improvements in other nighttime sleep disturbances.
According to Dr. Patrick John Strollo, the study's lead author, the benefits of AD109 were observed across diverse patient groups, including those with varying disease severity and body types. "An oral pill that targets the underlying neuromuscular drivers of airway collapse during sleep could help address this gap," Strollo stated, highlighting the significant unmet need in treating OSA, where a large proportion of diagnosed patients remain undertreated.