WATCH: 1st Drug Approved For Sleep Apnea Patients

VALLEY STREAM, NY — The FDA announced the approval last month of the first drug for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

"This medicine is just another in our arsenal of tools that we can use," said Dr. Stella Hahn, medical director of Northwell Health's new Sleep Disorders Center at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital.

The drug is tirzepatide, or its more common brand name Zepbound, which is officially listed on its website for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

"It's a medicine that's been out there, but just now has expanded indication," Hahn said.

As for the FDA adding other weight loss drugs to treat sleep apnea, "It is a possibility," she said. "I think we should expect to see that in the future."

Zepbound's approval comes after a landmark study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, "which showed significant improvement in both sleep apnea cases as well as the improvement in obesity in patients with both obesity and OSA," Hahn said.

For many sleep apnea patients, whose only option is the constrictive CPAP machine, Zepbound opens new doors for doctors and patients, alike.

"Before, they had trouble accessing the medications for various reasons. They didn't have the proper co-morbidities, or anything like that, to start on a weight loss medication," Hahn said. "

Watch the full "Patch Weekly Spotlight" interview with Dr. Hahn below.