Mounjaro approved to treat sleep apnoea

Weight-loss drug tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) can now be prescribed by GPs to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) following updated advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
 
In a move welcomed by sleep experts, the TGA has confirmed an expansion of the approved indications for Mounjaro to include moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea in adults living with obesity (BMI over 30).
 
Up until now, Mounjaro’s therapeutic indications were type 2 diabetes as well as chronic weight management for patients with a related health condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
 
The drug’s role in treating OSA will be weight reduction, easing pressure on the chest and abdomen and reducing excess fat around the neck and throat, its manufacturer Eli Lilly Australia explained.
 
GP and leading sleep health researcher Professor Nick Zwar said the new indication is ‘positive news’ and an additional way to support patients with weight loss.
 
‘As we all know, weight loss is difficult to achieve, and there doesn’t seem to be much doubt that drugs like Mounjaro can assist with weight loss,’ he said.
 
‘There’s also good evidence that in people with OSA who are overweight or obese, losing weight can improve their OSA, and that can benefit other things, such as blood pressure, daytime sleepiness and possibly their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.’
 
But Professor Zwar warned sustainable dietary changes are also necessary in managing OSA to prevent weight regain after stopping weight-loss medications further down the track.
 
A recent newsGP poll looking into the frequency of patient weight-loss medication queries found 32% of GPs reported receiving enquiries daily and 36% received them weekly.
 
Mounjaro is currently unavailable through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), with its recommended private prescription price beginning at $395 per month for the initiation dose.
 
‘It’s not PBS funded, so it would be out of the reach of quite a few people,’ Professor Zwar said.
 
‘It’s also important to note that the TGA indication is only for people with moderate or severe sleep apnoea. Quite a few of the patients that GPs are seeing would not be in that in that range.’
 
Sleep Health Foundation CEO Dr Moira Junge said many people with OSA go without treatment due to a lack of effective medicines.
 
‘Too many people with OSA suffer in silence, so a new treatment option will be warmly welcomed by patients and doctors,’ she said.
 
Eli Lilly Australia has also confirmed its multi-use Mounjaro KwikPen released in 2024 to resolve previous supply issues in Australia remains in stock and is available for GPs to prescribe.
 
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