Silent nights

A pill for sleep apnea could be on the horizon

- CAROLINE HOPKINS LEGASPI

Tens of millions of people in the United States struggle with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when the throat muscles narrow during sleep, leading to temporary pauses in breathing that can cause people to snore and jolt awake, gasping for air.

Poor sleep can leave people feeling exhausted, irritable and unfocused during the day. And if left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk for serious conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

For decades, the primary treatment for sleep apnea has been continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP). Before bed, those with the condition put on a face mask that is connected to a CPAP machine, which keeps the airway open by forcing air into it. The machines are effective, but many find them so noisy, cumbersome or uncomfortable that they end up abandoning them.

Now, a more appealing option may be on the way, according to a news release from Apnimed, a pharmaceutical company focused on treating sleep apnea. Last week, the company announced a second round of positive Phase 3 clinical trial results for a first-of-its-kind pill that can be taken just before bedtime to help keep a person's airway open.

The full results have not yet been released or published in a peer-reviewed journal. But the findings build on past, similarly positive conclusions from trials and studies. Sleep experts say that what they're seeing in reports so far makes them think the pill could be a game changer.