List of investigational sleep apnea drugs
This is a list of investigational sleep apnea drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of sleep apnea but are not yet approved.
Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses. The format of list items is "Name (Synonyms) – Mechanism of Action [Reference]".
This list was last comprehensively updated in September 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.
Under development
Phase 3
- Aroxybutynin/atomoxetine (AD-109; atomoxetine/aroxybutynin) – combination of aroxybutynin (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist/anticholinergic) and atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) [1]
- Mazdutide (IBI-362; LY-3305677; OXM-3) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and glucagon receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea [2]
- Orforglipron (LY-3502970; OWL-833) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea [3]
- Retatrutide (LY-3437943) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, glucagon receptor agonist, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea [4]
Phase 2/3
- Acetazolamide/dronabinol (IHL-42X) – combination of acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) and dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist) [5]
Phase 2
- AD-036 – undefined mechanism of action [6]
- Atomoxetine/mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (atomoxetine/antimineralocorticoid; AD-113) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist [7]
- Atomoxetine/trazodone (trazodone/atomoxetine; AD-504) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and trazodone (various actions/hypnotic) [8]
- BAY-2586116 – potassium channel blocker [9]
- CX-1739 – ampakine (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator) [10]
- Dronabinol low-dose (tetrahydrocannabinol; THC; PP-001) – cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist [11]
- Dronabinol/palmitoylethanolamide (SCI-110; THX-OSA01; THX-RS01; THX-110; THX-TS01; THC/PEA) – combination of dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist) and palmitoylethanolamine (various actions) [12]
- Lorundrostat (MLS-101; MT-4129) – aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitor [13]
- Phentermine/topiramate (Qnexa; Qsiva; Qsymia; topiramate/phentermine; VI-0521) – combination of phentermine (norepinephrine releasing agent) and topiramate (various actions) [14]
- Research programme: Sleep disordered breathing therapeutics - Shinogi-Apnimed Sleep Science – undefined mechanisms of action [15]
- SASS-001 – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist [16]
- Sivopixant (S-600918) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist [17]
- Sulthiame (SASS-002; sulthiame; Sultia; sultiame) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor [18]
- Trazodone/viloxazine (AD-816; viloxazine/trazodone) – combination of trazodone (various actions/hypnotic) and viloxazine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) [19]
Phase 1
- BAY-2925976 (KRP-S124) – α2C-adrenergic receptor antagonist [20]
- Gal-475 – chemoreceptor cell modulator [21]
- MOS-118 (AVE-0118) – potassium channel blocker [22]
Not under development
No development reported
- Atomoxetine/orexin antagonist (AD-182) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and an orexin receptor antagonist [23]
- Daridorexant (ACT-541468; nemorexant; Quviviq) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist [24]
- Lemborexant (Dayvigo; E-2006; LEM) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist [25]
- Research programme: AMPA receptor agonists - RespireRx (ampakines; CX compounds) – ampakines (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulators) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulants [26]
- Research programme: sleep apnoea therapeutics - Apnimed – undefined mechanism of action [27]
- Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922; JNJ-7922; MIN-202) – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist [28]
- Vornorexant (ORN-0829; TS-142) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist [29]
Discontinued
- AVE-0657 – sodium–hydrogen antiporter inhibitor [30]
- Danavorexton (TAK-925) – orexin OX2 receptor agonist [31]
- Dexloxiglumide (CR-2017) – cholecystokinin A (CCKA) receptor antagonist [32]
- Gefapixant (AF-219; Gefzuris; Lyfnua; MK-7264; R-1646; RG-1646; RO-4926219) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist [33]
- Itriglumide (CR-2945) – cholecystokinin B (CCKB) receptor antagonist [34]
- Sleep apnoea therapeutic (TASK channel blocker) – potassium channel blocker [35]
Clinically used drugs
Approved drugs
- Tirzepatide (LY-3298176; Mounjaro; Zepbound) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea [36]
Off-label drugs
- Acetazolamide (Diamox) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor[1]
- Atomoxetine (Strattera) – norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)[2][3]
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug[3][2]
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan) – muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (anticholinergic)[2]
- Pimavanserin (Nuplaizid) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist[3]
- Sodium oxybate (GHB; Xyrem) – GABAB receptor agonist and GHB receptor agonist[2]
- Trazodone (Desyrel) – various actions[3]
- Weight-loss drugs (e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide) – obesity-related sleep apnea[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ Schmickl CN, Landry SA, Orr JE, Chin K, Murase K, Verbraecken J, Javaheri S, Edwards BA, Owens RL, Malhotra A (December 2020). "Acetazolamide for OSA and Central Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Chest. 158 (6): 2632–2645. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.078. PMC 7768933. PMID 32768459.
- ^ a b c d Nobre ML, Sarmento AC, de Oliveira PF, Wanderley FF, Diniz Júnior J, Gonçalves AK (2024). "Pharmacological treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Clinics (Sao Paulo). 79 100330. doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100330. PMC 10869242. PMID 38341903.
- ^ a b c d Luu S, Chan DE, Marshall NS, Phillips CL, Grunstein RR, Yee BJ (September 2025). "Pharmacotherapy for obstructive sleep apnea: a critical review of randomized placebo-controlled trials". Sleep Med Rev. 84 102169. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2025.102169. PMID 40974973.
- ^ El-Solh AA, Gould E, Aibangbee K, Jimerson T, Hartling R (January 2025). "Current perspectives on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in obesity-related obstructive sleep apnea: a narrative review". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 26 (1): 51–62. doi:10.1080/14656566.2024.2437525. PMID 39621418.
- ^ Marra S, Arnaldi D, Nobili L (November 2019). "The pharmacotherapeutic management of obstructive sleep apnea". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 20 (16): 1981–1991. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1652271. PMID 31487204.