Brasília – The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has authorized the use of Mounjaro (active ingredient tirzepatide) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adult patients with obesity, expanding the drug’s indication beyond its previous approvals for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. The authorization was published in the Official Gazette of the Union on October 20, 2025, following clinical evidence that demonstrated the medication’s efficacy in reducing apnea and improving sleep quality.

The approval addresses a major public health gap, as traditional treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices often have low adherence rates. Since obesity is one of the primary risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing, the new indication aligns pharmacological weight reduction with improved respiratory outcomes. Clinical studies have shown that tirzepatide reduces apnea–hypopnea episodes by both lowering body weight and modulating airway function.

Anvisa’s decision places Brazil among the first countries to approve the drug for this use, in line with recent regulatory moves in the United States and Europe. Experts point out that the introduction of Mounjaro for sleep apnea opens new possibilities for integrated care models combining endocrinology, pulmonology and sleep medicine—addressing metabolic and respiratory components simultaneously.

Source: G1 / Globo

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