Eli Lilly said on November 9, 2026 that its once daily weight loss pill Foundayo cut sleep apnea episodes by up to 44 percent in two large Phase 3 trials. The pill, also known by its drug name orforglipron, was tested in 712 adults who had moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and overweight or obesity. In the group that did not use PAP therapy, breathing pauses fell by 43.8 percent. In the group that did use PAP therapy, they fell by 27.5 percent. People in both groups also lost about 11 percent of their body weight. Foundayo is already approved for weight management, but it is not yet approved for sleep apnea.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drug name | Foundayo, also called orforglipron, a once daily oral GLP-1 pill |
| Trial name | ATTAIN-OSA, two Phase 3 randomized double blind placebo controlled trials |
| Trial length | 52 weeks in both studies |
| Total participants | 712 adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and overweight or obesity |
| Study 1 | 363 people not using PAP therapy, breathing pauses fell 43.8 percent |
| Study 2 | 349 people using PAP therapy, breathing pauses fell 27.5 percent |
| Average weight loss | About 28 pounds, roughly 11 percent of body weight, in both groups |
| Results announced | November 9, 2026, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago |
| Published | In JAMA on November 9, 2026 |
| Current approval | Approved for obesity and weight management in April 2026, not yet approved for sleep apnea |
| Next step | Lilly plans to submit the sleep apnea data to the FDA by the end of 2026 |
What the Trial Found
The ATTAIN-OSA program had two trials that each ran for one year. Both tested Foundayo against a placebo in adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and a body mass index of 27 or higher.
In the first study, 363 people took part and none used PAP therapy at the start. Their average AHI at the start was about 50.7 events per hour, a high level. After 52 weeks on Foundayo, AHI fell by 21.1 events per hour, a drop of 43.8 percent. People on placebo saw only a 6.3 percent drop. About 31.5 percent of people on Foundayo reached remission or mild disease, but most still had sleep apnea at the end.
In the second study, 349 people took part and all used PAP therapy. Their starting AHI was about 57.6 events per hour. After 52 weeks, AHI fell by 18.3 events per hour in the Foundayo group, a drop of 27.5 percent. People on placebo saw only a 3 percent drop. About 19.6 percent reached remission or mild disease, and hypoxic burden fell by 45.8 percent. The results were presented by Vaishnavi Kundel from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and published in JAMA on the same day.
How Foundayo Works and Why Weight Matters
Foundayo is a GLP-1 medicine taken as a pill once a day. GLP-1 medicines copy a natural gut hormone that helps control appetite and blood sugar. People who take them often feel full sooner, eat less, and lose weight over time. Most GLP-1 medicines for weight loss are given as a weekly injection.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Foundayo in April 2026 for obesity and weight management. That approval did not cover sleep apnea. Extra weight is one of the strongest risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea, because fat around the neck can narrow the airway. When people lose a large amount of weight, the airway often opens up more, and breathing pauses become less frequent.
Experts have noted that much of the benefit from Foundayo may come from the weight loss itself rather than a direct effect on the airway. That does not make the result less useful, but it shapes how people should think about it. For a broader view of this class of medicine, the recent GLP-1 safety warnings are worth reading, because they show these drugs need careful use and regular medical follow up. Anyone thinking about weight loss as part of sleep care should also read about how to lose weight safely and talk through the options with a clinician.
What This Means If You Use CPAP
For people who already use CPAP, the second ATTAIN-OSA study is the most relevant part of the news. Those participants kept using PAP therapy and added either Foundayo or a placebo. The Foundayo group saw an extra drop in breathing pauses of 27.5 percent, while the placebo group saw almost no change. That suggests the pill can add benefit on top of machine therapy, rather than replacing it.
This does not mean people on CPAP should stop using their machine. The trials do not prove that anyone can safely give up CPAP after taking Foundayo. Most people in both studies still had sleep apnea at the end of the year, even after strong weight loss. Any change to CPAP use should be decided with a sleep doctor, based on a repeat sleep study and a full review of symptoms.
For people who cannot tolerate CPAP, the results may feel more hopeful. Some people find the mask uncomfortable, struggle with air pressure, or stop using the machine after a few weeks. In the first study, people who were not using PAP therapy saw the largest gain, with a 43.8 percent fall in breathing pauses. That shows a weight loss pill can help even without a machine. Still, only about one in three people in that group reached remission or mild disease, so most still needed some form of sleep apnea care.
What Foundayo Does Not Do Yet
It is important to be clear about the limits of this news. Foundayo is not yet approved for sleep apnea, and no doctor can prescribe it for that use on the basis of an FDA approval today. Lilly plans to send the ATTAIN-OSA data to the FDA by the end of 2026 and ask for approval for moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity or overweight. The FDA will review the full data, look at safety, and decide whether the benefit is strong enough for a new approval.
The trials also do not show that Foundayo cures sleep apnea. A 44 percent fall in breathing pauses is a real gain, but it leaves many pauses behind. In the first study, the average AHI fell from about 50.7 to about 29.6 events per hour. In the second study, the average fell from about 57.6 to about 39.3 events per hour.
Safety is another open question for sleep apnea use. The trials ran for 52 weeks, and the FDA will want to see the full safety record before it approves a new use. GLP-1 medicines are known to cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite in some people, and they are not right for everyone. The trials only included adults with a body mass index of 27 or higher, so the results do not apply to people with sleep apnea who are at a lower weight.
What Happens Next
The next step is the FDA submission. Lilly has said it will send the ATTAIN-OSA data to the agency by the end of 2026. If the FDA accepts the filing, reviewers will study the trial design, the size of the benefit, the safety data, and whether the results hold up across different patient groups.
Foundayo would not be the first weight loss medicine approved for sleep apnea if it succeeds. Lilly’s own Zepbound, which is given as a weekly injection, became the first medication approved for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity in December 2024.
The wider market for GLP-1 pills is moving fast, as shown in the report on Novo Nordisk raises 2026 outlook as Wegovy pill sales surge. Longer trials could show whether the sleep gains last for two or three years, and whether people keep the weight off.
This is general information only. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace a talk with your own doctor. If you have sleep apnea, or you think you might have it, speak to your own doctor before making any decision about sleep apnea treatment, starting a new medicine, or changing how you use CPAP.
FAQs
What is Foundayo and what is it used for?
Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a once daily oral GLP-1 pill. The FDA approved it in April 2026 for obesity and weight management. It is not yet approved for sleep apnea.
How much did Foundayo cut sleep apnea episodes in the trials?
In the ATTAIN-OSA trials, breathing pauses fell by up to 44 percent. In people not using PAP therapy, the apnea hypopnea index fell by 43.8 percent. In people using PAP therapy, it fell by 27.5 percent.
Can Foundayo replace CPAP?
No, the trials do not prove that. Most people still had sleep apnea at the end of the trials, even after strong weight loss. People should not stop CPAP without advice from their own doctor.
When could Foundayo be approved for sleep apnea?
Lilly plans to submit the ATTAIN-OSA data to the FDA by the end of 2026. The FDA will then review the full data and decide. No approval date has been announced, and approval is not certain until the agency decides.
SOURCES
Final Thoughts
The ATTAIN-OSA results are good news with clear limits. A daily pill that cuts breathing pauses by up to 44 percent and helps people lose about 11 percent of body weight is a real step forward for sleep apnea care. The gains were seen both in people who used PAP therapy and in people who did not, which means the pill could help a wide group of patients.
At the same time, this is not a cure and not yet an approved sleep apnea treatment. Most people in the trials still had sleep apnea after a year, and no one should stop CPAP or start a new medicine based on a headline. If the FDA approves Foundayo for sleep apnea, doctors will have a pill they can offer alongside CPAP, mouth devices, and lifestyle care. Until then, the best next step for anyone with sleep apnea is a calm talk with their own doctor about weight, sleep, and the treatment plan that fits their life.
