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A 'Holy Grail' Sleep Apnea Pill Could Be On The Market Next Year

Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:04 am
Posted by RLDSC FAN
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Member since Nov 2008
59135 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:04 am
quote:

The disease affects as many as 80 million in the U.S. alone. Now Apnimed, the $400 million company behind the first ever pill to treat it, is preparing to file for FDA approval.


quote:

Fast forward nine years later, and Cambridge, Mass.-based startup Apnimed, which acquired the rights to the potential medication from Harvard, is preparing to file for FDA approval for a nightly pill based on those two drugs for the breathing disorder. In very simplified terms, the medication works by waking up the brain stem, preventing full muscle relaxation in the throat, while allowing the brain itself to rest during sleep. If all goes well, it could be on the market in the first half of 2027, offering a potentially life-changing treatment for some of the estimated 80 million people in the U.S. with sleep apnea.

Right now, the primary treatment for the disease is a continuous positive airway pressure machine, known as a CPAP, which forces air down the wearer’s throat to keep it open. The device works. But, no surprise, it’s hated by most everyone who has to use it. Many people with sleep apnea refuse to try it or won’t even get diagnosed for fear they may have to. Yet sleep apnea isn’t just some minor annoyance. Research shows that people with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to develop heart trouble, strokes and perhaps even Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. A treatment that’s easier for patients to stomach could have a transformative impact on their overall health.


quote:

Sleep medicine, until recently, has been something of a backwater. Even today, the buzz over sleep in Silicon Valley is more about high-tech mattresses and wearables that target consumers who want “optimized” sleep. Sleep apnea, despite there now being a handful of other early-stage startups focused on it, is a disease that’s under the radar. “It’s not an exciting disease,” Miller said. “Some diseases, like Alzheimer’s, capture the public imagination. This one never did.”

That may be because sleep isn’t that well understood, even though we spend about one-third of our lives doing it. Or it may be because of the false perception that it’s not a serious disease, or solely a problem for obese, middle-aged men. CPAP dates only to 1981; before that people with severe sleep apnea were treated with tracheostomy, a surgical hole in the windpipe.



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Posted by beerJeep
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2016
37860 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:05 am to
I hear it smells like a mix of hamster and elderberry
Posted by jbgleason
Bailed out of BTR to God's Country
Member since Mar 2012
19892 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:09 am to
The CPAP industry, which is pretty large and powerful, will fight this tooth and nail.

Lots of $$$$ about to be thrown at politicians.

Not to help patients mind you but to protect the companies making breathing machines.
Posted by BK Lounge
Member since Nov 2021
5096 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:13 am to
Pretty obvious question i guess- but would this pill theoretically help those of us who are just plain old insomniacs, without apnea ? Why or why not ?
Posted by LSUGrad9295
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2007
37096 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:14 am to
Trust me as someone who has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP.....the CPAP people and the people who sell supplies like masks and cushions for ridiculously high prices are going to fight this new pill vigorously.

Edit: jbgleason knows what is up
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 11:15 am
Posted by St Augustine
The Pauper of the Surf
Member since Mar 2006
71436 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:16 am to
quote:

The CPAP industry, which is pretty large and powerful, will fight this tooth and nail. Lots of $$$$ about to be thrown at politicians. Not to help patients mind you but to protect the companies making breathing machines.


They can fight it all they want. A LOT of people will likely opt over a pill as opposed to the care of a cpap and will push for it.
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 11:22 am
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
7083 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:18 am to
Yeah they won't give up their $80 4 foot section of tubing very easily. Ridiculously overpriced shite.
Posted by ultratiger89
Houston, Tx
Member since Aug 2007
3712 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:19 am to
quote:

solely a problem for obese, middle-aged men


When I did my sleep study there was a twenty something smoking hot girl in the sleep lab having one done. It’s not just overweight people. I was in great shape and still had it.

I don’t hate sleeping with it but a pill that works will be awesome
Posted by MardiGrasCajun
Dirty Coast, MS
Member since Sep 2005
5978 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:21 am to
quote:

The CPAP industry, which is pretty large and powerful, will fight this tooth and nail. Lots of $$$$ about to be thrown at politicians. Not to help patients mind you but to protect the companies making breathing machines.


Philips destroyed their CPAP business when they had the recall. They were the king of CPAP machines. No more.
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
25858 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:21 am to
Not sure how much I trust a pill that alters the brain like that.
Posted by 10tiger
Member since Jan 2021
256 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:24 am to
Will be interesting to read the trials on these. A lot of meds that have been developed for the treatment of OSA are REM suppressing medications. Sleep apnea is worse in REM sleep, so by suppressing REM sleep theoretically you are improving sleep apnea. The brain also manages to get back to getting into REM sleep eventually. So long term efficacy will be interesting too.
Posted by boogiewoogie1978
Little Rock
Member since Aug 2012
19596 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:31 am to
Cyanide has been around for a bit
Posted by TexasTiger89
Houston, TX
Member since Feb 2005
26516 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:32 am to
quote:

Pretty obvious question i guess- but would this pill theoretically help those of us who are just plain old insomniacs, without apnea ? Why or why not ?


Exactly what I was thinking.
Posted by Night Vision
Member since Feb 2018
19674 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:33 am to
quote:

When I did my sleep study there was a twenty something smoking hot girl in the sleep lab having one done. It’s not just overweight people.


I'm just over 6'0" and I weighed 190 when I was diagnosed in my early 40's.

Had surgery and the anesthesiologist told me I had sleep apnea. Had the sleep study to confirm it.
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
27915 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:34 am to
quote:

When I did my sleep study there was a twenty something smoking hot girl in the sleep lab having one done. It’s not just overweight people. I was in great shape and still had it.

I don’t hate sleeping with it but a pill that works will be awesome


Ditto. I run just about every day along with push ups, sit ups, pull ups. I've still got "severe sleep apnea". Finally did a test fairly recently after years of the wife putting up with me. I was snoring loudly 15 years ago while still running 80 miles/week.

But the last thing I want is a damn mask and tube hooked up to me while sleeping, so right now, I'm trying to mouthpiece route with my dentist. If it doesn't work on the brain-function part where evidently my brain isn't always telling me to breathe, then I'd get a CPAP and use the piece when travelling for work and pleasure.

A pill, if safe, could be a HUGE game-changer.
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
25858 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:41 am to
quote:

But the last thing I want is a damn mask and tube hooked up to me while sleeping


I felt the same. But after I adjusted to sleeping with the mask, I realized how much sleep I've been missing out on. It's a life changer.
Posted by Bjorn Cyborg
Member since Sep 2016
34379 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 11:44 am to
quote:

It’s not just overweight people. I was in great shape and still had it.


It's for mostly overweight people. Outliers don't make that false.

Your neck measurement is a key indicator.
Posted by guzziguy
Lake Forest
Member since Jun 2022
802 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 12:01 pm to
quote:

the medication works by waking up the brain stem, preventing full muscle relaxation in the throat, while allowing the brain itself to rest during sleep.


Wake up the stem, relax the throat, let the brain rest...
How the hell is that going to work?

I used to snore but not anymore since I lost some weight.
I still don't get shite for sleep because I just can't get comfortable for long periods of time.
Except in my Lazy Boy recliner- but then it's kind of hard to lay on my side if I want to.

Posted by Harry Caray
Denial
Member since Aug 2009
20529 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 12:09 pm to
quote:

Not to help patients mind you but to protect the companies making breathing machines.

As is tradition.

Meanwhile the middle class has 0 lobbyists.

Ban PACs and lobbying.
Posted by wesfau
Member since Mar 2023
1925 posts
Posted on 1/12/26 at 12:11 pm to
Same, barney, same.

Life altering.
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