List of investigational sleep apnea drugs
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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 It is likely to become outdated with time.
Phase 3
- Aroxybutynin/atomoxetine (AD-109; atomoxetine/aroxybutynin) – combination of aroxybutynin (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist/anticholinergic) and atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)
- Mazdutide (IBI-362; LY-3305677; OXM-3) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and glucagon receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea
- Orforglipron (LY-3502970; OWL-833) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea
- 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
Phase 2/3
- Acetazolamide/dronabinol (IHL-42X) – combination of acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) and dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist)
Phase 2
- AD-036 – undefined mechanism of action
- Atomoxetine/mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (atomoxetine/antimineralocorticoid; AD-113) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist
- Atomoxetine/trazodone (trazodone/atomoxetine; AD-504) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and trazodone (various actions/hypnotic)
- BAY-2586116 – potassium channel blocker
- CX-1739 – ampakine (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator)
- Dronabinol low-dose (tetrahydrocannabinol; THC; PP-001) – cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist
- Dronabinol/palmitoylethanolamide (SCI-110; THX-OSA01; THX-RS01; THX-110; THX-TS01; THC/PEA) – combination of dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist) and palmitoylethanolamine (various actions)
- Lorundrostat (MLS-101; MT-4129) – aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitor
- Phentermine/topiramate (Qnexa; Qsiva; Qsymia; topiramate/phentermine; VI-0521) – combination of phentermine (norepinephrine releasing agent) and topiramate (various actions)
- Research programme: Sleep disordered breathing therapeutics - Shinogi-Apnimed Sleep Science – undefined mechanisms of action
- SASS-001 – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist
- Sivopixant (S-600918) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist
- Sulthiame (SASS-002; sulthiame; Sultia; sultiame) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor [1][2][3]
- Trazodone/viloxazine (AD-816; viloxazine/trazodone) – combination of trazodone (various actions/hypnotic) and viloxazine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)
Phase 1
- BAY-2925976 (KRP-S124) – α2C-adrenergic receptor antagonist
- Gal-475 – chemoreceptor cell modulator
- MOS-118 (AVE-0118) – potassium channel blocker
Not under development
No development reported
- Atomoxetine/orexin antagonist (AD-182) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and an orexin receptor antagonist
- Daridorexant (ACT-541468; nemorexant; Quviviq) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist
- Lemborexant (Dayvigo; E-2006; LEM) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist
- Research programme: AMPA receptor agonists - RespireRx (ampakines; CX compounds) – ampakines (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulators) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulants
- Research programme: sleep apnoea therapeutics - Apnimed – undefined mechanism of action
- Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922; JNJ-7922; MIN-202) – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist
- Vornorexant (ORN-0829; TS-142) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist
Discontinued
- AVE-0657 – sodium–hydrogen antiporter inhibitor
- Danavorexton (TAK-925) – orexin OX2 receptor agonist
- Dexloxiglumide (CR-2017) – cholecystokinin A (CCKA) receptor antagonist
- Gefapixant (AF-219; Gefzuris; Lyfnua; MK-7264; R-1646; RG-1646; RO-4926219) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist
- Itriglumide (CR-2945) – cholecystokinin B (CCKB) receptor antagonist
- Sleep apnoea therapeutic (TASK channel blocker) – potassium channel blocker
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
Off-label drugs
- Acetazolamide (Diamox) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor[4]
- Atomoxetine (Strattera) – norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)[5][6]
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug[6][5]
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan) – muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (anticholinergic)[5]
- Pimavanserin (Nuplaizid) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist[6]
- Sodium oxybate (GHB; Xyrem) – GABAB receptor agonist and GHB receptor agonist[5]
- Trazodone (Desyrel) – various actions[6]
- Weight-loss drugs (e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide) – obesity-related sleep apnea[7][8]