Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), already FDA‑approved for moderate‑to‑severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, is the focus of a new national campaign featuring Shaquille O’Neal. The initiative highlights clinical trial evidence, public health impact, and expanded patient access programs.
Written By: Kalyani Boharapi,
M.Pharm (Reg. Affairs)
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Eli Lilly has launched Watch This, a nationwide awareness campaign featuring basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, who is sharing his personal experience with moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and treatment with Zepbound (tirzepatide).
O’Neal said years of daytime fatigue, poor sleep, loud snoring, and difficulty concentrating led to a diagnosis of moderate OSA, a condition that affects millions of adults yet often remains undiagnosed. He is now partnering with Lilly to encourage people experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical evaluation and discuss treatment options with their healthcare providers.
First Approved Drug for OSA in Adults with Obesity
Zepbound is the first and only FDA-approved prescription medicine for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity. The dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist is prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
OSA is characterized by repeated upper-airway obstruction during sleep, leading to breathing interruptions, fragmented sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Lilly estimates that approximately 24 million adults in the United States live with the condition, while most moderate-to-severe cases remain undiagnosed.
SURMOUNT-OSA Data Supported Approval
The approval was supported by the Phase 3 SURMOUNT-OSA program (NCT05412004), which evaluated tirzepatide 10 mg and 15 mg in adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe OSA.
In a 52-week study involving participants not using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, tirzepatide reduced the average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 52.9 events per hour at baseline to 27.6 events per hour, compared with 44.8 events per hour in the placebo group.
A second study enrolled patients receiving PAP therapy. After 52 weeks, participants treated with tirzepatide reduced average AHI from 46.1 to 16.8 events per hour, while placebo-treated participants showed a smaller reduction from 53.1 to 47.6 events per hour.
The studies also demonstrated meaningful disease improvement. Among participants not receiving PAP therapy, 42.2% achieved remission or mild OSA without symptoms after one year, compared with 15.9% of placebo recipients. In the PAP-treated population, 50.2% achieved the same outcome versus 14.3% with placebo.
Expanding Awareness and Access
Lina Polimeni, Lilly’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer for consumer health, said O’Neal’s willingness to discuss his diagnosis could help more people recognize symptoms that are often overlooked.
Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, noted that increasing awareness of OSA remains an important step in improving diagnosis and access to care.
The Watch This campaign will run across television, streaming, digital, social media, and community-based events. Lilly will also direct patients to educational resources, diagnostic information, and support programs related to Zepbound and OSA care.
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About the Writer
Kalyani Boharapi (LinkedIn) is a pharmacy professional and healthcare writer currently pursuing an M.Pharm in Regulatory Affairs at Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Pharmacy, with interests in pharmaceutical regulations, drug development, and healthcare innovation. She has academic exposure to dossier preparation, scientific writing, and regulatory documentation. Kalyani has also completed certification courses in Generative AI, AI in Pharma, and Bioinformatics, and actively participates in pharmaceutical conferences to stay updated with emerging trends and advancements in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.