List of investigational sleep apnea drugs

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 It is likely to become outdated with time.

Under development

Phase 3

• Aroxybutynin/atomoxetine (AD-109; atomoxetine/aroxybutynin) – combination of aroxybutynin (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist/anticholinergic) and atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800060576
• Mazdutide (IBI-362; LY-3305677; OXM-3) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and glucagon receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800048373
• Orforglipron (LY-3502970; OWL-833) – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist – obesity-related sleep apnea https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800052439
• 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 https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800054136

Phase 2/3

• Acetazolamide/dronabinol (IHL-42X) – combination of acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) and dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800060567

Phase 2

• AD-036 – undefined mechanism of action https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800054175
• Atomoxetine/mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (atomoxetine/antimineralocorticoid; AD-113) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800063990
• Atomoxetine/trazodone (trazodone/atomoxetine; AD-504) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and trazodone (various actions/hypnotic) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800061325
• BAY-2586116 – potassium channel blocker https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800057288
• CX-1739 – ampakine (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800028722
• Dronabinol low-dose (tetrahydrocannabinol; THC; PP-001) – cannabinoid CB₁ and CB₂ receptor agonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800036604
• Dronabinol/palmitoylethanolamide (SCI-110; THX-OSA01; THX-RS01; THX-110; THX-TS01; THC/PEA) – combination of dronabinol (cannabinoid receptor agonist) and palmitoylethanolamine (various actions) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800045618
• Lorundrostat (MLS-101; MT-4129) – aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) inhibitor https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800048261
• Phentermine/topiramate (Qnexa; Qsiva; Qsymia; topiramate/phentermine; VI-0521) – combination of phentermine (norepinephrine releasing agent) and topiramate (various actions) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800024410
• Research programme: Sleep disordered breathing therapeutics - Shinogi-Apnimed Sleep Science – undefined mechanisms of action https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800079669
• SASS-001 – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800081026
• Sivopixant (S-600918) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800050839
• Sulthiame (SASS-002; sulthiame; Sultia; sultiame) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800067624 https://synapse.patsnap.com/drug/e80206f5f7c34926ad6964f0739233f4

• Trazodone/viloxazine (AD-816; viloxazine/trazodone) – combination of trazodone (various actions/hypnotic) and viloxazine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800073112

Phase 1

• BAY-2925976 (KRP-S124) – α_2C-adrenergic receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800081122
• Gal-475 – chemoreceptor cell modulator https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800073465
• MOS-118 (AVE-0118) – potassium channel blocker https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800019047

Not under development

No development reported

• Atomoxetine/orexin antagonist (AD-182) – combination of atomoxetine (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and an orexin receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800061324
• Daridorexant (ACT-541468; nemorexant; Quviviq) – orexin OX₁ and OX₂ receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800044843
• Lemborexant (Dayvigo; E-2006; LEM) – orexin OX₁ and OX₂ receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800035210
• Research programme: AMPA receptor agonists - RespireRx (ampakines; CX compounds) – ampakines (AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulators) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) stimulants https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800013391
• Research programme: sleep apnoea therapeutics - Apnimed – undefined mechanism of action https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800052538
• Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922; JNJ-7922; MIN-202) – orexin OX₂ receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800040115
• Vornorexant (ORN-0829; TS-142) – orexin OX₁ and OX₂ receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800049420

Discontinued

• AVE-0657 – sodium–hydrogen antiporter inhibitor https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800023277
• Danavorexton (TAK-925) – orexin OX₂ receptor agonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800050631
• Dexloxiglumide (CR-2017) – cholecystokinin A (CCK_A) receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800005539
• Gefapixant (AF-219; Gefzuris; Lyfnua; MK-7264; R-1646; RG-1646; RO-4926219) – purinergic P2X3 receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800024875
• Itriglumide (CR-2945) – cholecystokinin B (CCK_B) receptor antagonist https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800010503
• Sleep apnoea therapeutic (TASK channel blocker) – potassium channel blocker https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800049497

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 https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800045287

Off-label drugs

• Acetazolamide (Diamox) – carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
• Atomoxetine (Strattera) – norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)
• Eszopiclone (Lunesta) – GABA_A receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug
• Oxybutynin (Ditropan) – muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (anticholinergic)
• Pimavanserin (Nuplaizid) – serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor antagonist
• Sodium oxybate (GHB; Xyrem) – GABA_B receptor agonist and GHB receptor agonist
• Trazodone (Desyrel) – various actions
• Weight-loss drugs (e.g., liraglutide, semaglutide) – obesity-related sleep apnea

See also

• Lists of investigational drugs

References

External links

• AdisInsight - Springer