(NewsNation) — Researchers hope that a third trial will be the charm when it comes to a drug that could replace a CPAP machine for people with mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea.
“There is a clear unmet need for an effective, well-tolerated therapy to address the physiologic and symptomatic effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” according to the website for the drug maker Apnimed.
Its goal is “to develop oral medications to address the underlying biology of this life-altering illness.”
The Massachusetts-based company is developing a drug called AD109. It’s a combination of aroxybutynin, which is used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, and atomoxetine, which is used to treat ADHD.
A third trial of the drug is underway, and researchers say, so far, it has shown “clinically meaningful improvement in [sleep apnea], suggesting that further development of the compound is warranted.”
About 39 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, the condition where the upper airway collapses during sleep, partly or completely blocking the flow of air to the lungs.
The best current treatment is a CPAP machine, which forces air through the nose and mouth to keep the airway open.
OSA is one of the most “under-recognized” conditions, according to The Cleveland Clinic. It says as many as 90% of people with OSA don’t know it.
Sufferers are often sleepy all day due to a lack of quality sleep, have dry mouth or sore throats, high blood pressure and decreased sexual drive.
And the most notable complication of OSA is death. It was linked to the deaths of NFL star Reggie White, actors Carrie Fisher and John Candy, and the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia.
