A weekly triple-hormone shot cut breathing pauses during sleep in people with obesity
Sleep healthPart of a story we are following · 13 articles · See every update
Retatrutide reduced breathing pauses during sleep by up to 34.3 events per hour at 80 weeks in adults with sleep apnea and obesity, vs. 9.9 with placebo, with weight loss up to 22.2%, in two phase 3 trials published Oct. 21, 2026, in New England Journal of Medicine. It could become a drug option for sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway repeatedly closes during sleep, is closely linked to excess weight. The usual treatment is a CPAP machine, which many people find hard to use. Weight-loss drugs may offer another route.
What did the trials test?
Adults with moderate to severe sleep apnea and a body mass index of at least 27 were assigned by chance to retatrutide (4, 9 or 12 mg) or placebo for 80 weeks: 243 people without type 2 diabetes (TRIUMPH-1-OSA) and 448 with it (TRIUMPH-2-OSA). The main measure was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the number of breathing pauses or shallow breaths per hour of sleep. At the start, the average was 58.6 and 55.9 events per hour.
What did the study find about sleep?
| Change in AHI at 80 weeks (events per hour) | 4 mg | 9 mg | 12 mg | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without diabetes | -22.9 | -34.3 | -31.7 | -9.9 |
| With type 2 diabetes | -19.2 | -24.7 | -25.4 | -10.3 |
Body weight fell 12.5% to 22.2% without diabetes and 12.1% to 18.5% with diabetes, vs. 4.8% and 5.6% with placebo. The most common side effects were stomach problems.
| 4 mg | 22.9 events per hour |
|---|---|
| 9 mg | 34.3 events per hour |
| 12 mg | 31.7 events per hour |
| Placebo | 9.9 events per hour |
Why does this matter?
Many people with sleep apnea can’t tolerate CPAP. A drug that tackles the main cause, excess weight, and lowers breathing pauses could help them. Another drug in this family, tirzepatide, is already approved for this use in some countries. Losing weight also helps blood pressure and blood sugar, which matter for people with sleep apnea.
How solid is this evidence?
It’s strong. Mongevity rates it A on our A-to-E scale: two large double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials. Limits: retatrutide is still investigational, the trials were funded by the maker, Eli Lilly, and many participants still had sleep apnea at the end.
What does this mean for you?
If you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep or feel very sleepy during the day, ask about a sleep study. If you have sleep apnea and excess weight, ask your doctor about weight-loss options, including approved medicines. Don’t stop CPAP without talking to your doctor.
How do I explain this at dinner?
Some people stop breathing for a few seconds again and again while they sleep, often because of extra weight. A weekly shot that helps people lose weight also cut those pauses a lot. A good question for the table: why might losing weight help breathing at night?
In one sentence: retatrutide sharply reduced breathing pauses during sleep in adults with sleep apnea and obesity, largely through major weight loss.
Questions and answers
- What is retatrutide?
- An experimental weekly injection that acts on three hormone receptors: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon.
- How much did it reduce sleep apnea?
- In people without diabetes, the AHI fell 34.3 events per hour with 9 mg vs. 9.9 with placebo at 80 weeks.
- Can it replace CPAP?
- Not yet: it's still investigational, and many participants still had sleep apnea; don't stop CPAP on your own.
