About this episode

The episode discusses groundbreaking medications for sleep disorders poised for FDA approval, featuring insights from Dr. Sanjay Patel.

In this special live episode recorded from the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting in Baltimore, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Sanjay Patel, director of the clinical sleep program at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, to discuss groundbreaking medications for sleep disorders poised for FDA approval in 2026 and 2027. The pharmaceutical landscape for sleep medicine is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Dr. Patel surveys the emerging drug pipeline that will fundamentally change how clinicians treat obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and idiopathic hypersomnia. For obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Patel discusses AD-109 (atomoxetine and R-oxybutynin), explaining the mechanistic rationale and practical considerations including use with tirzepatide. The Incannex drug combining dronabinol and acetazolamide receives analysis for different patient populations, and sultiame is discussed as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor option. A critical framework emerges: Should treatment be symptom-based or airway-focused when PAP-intolerant patients present? Tirzepatide, the GLP-1 agonist FDA-approved for moderate-to-severe OSA, receives comprehensive coverage including muscle loss concerns…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Seema Khosla

Guest: Dr. Sanjay Patel

Topics covered

• sleep pharmacotherapy
• sleep disorders
• FDA approval
• obstructive sleep apnea
• narcolepsy
• idiopathic hypersomnia
• emerging drug pipeline

Keywords

• sleep disorders
• FDA approval
• obstructive sleep apnea
• narcolepsy
• pharmacotherapy
• drug pipeline
• tirzepatide
• orexin agonists

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Alkemeres, Centessa, Lilly, Takeda

Products: AD-109, tirzepatide, dronabinol, acetazolamide, sultiame, retatrutide

Places: Baltimore

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