Anti-Obesity Drug May Reduce Sleep Apnea

An investigational oral anti-obesity drug called Qnexa appears to be an effective treatment for sleep apnea, according to drug maker Vivus Inc.

A study of 45 obese men and women found that those treated with Qnexa for 28 weeks had 69 percent fewer sleep apnea events than those who took a placebo. The patients who took the drug lost an average 10 percent of body weight (about 23.8 pounds), Dow Jones Newswires reported.

"We know that substantial weight loss can significantly improve sleep apnea. These phase 2 data suggest that Qnexa, if approved for this indication, may be a promising treatment" for sleep apnea, said Leland Wilson, chief executive of Vivus.

The company has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the drug as a treatment for obesity, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

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• Sleep Apnea