Zepbound (finally) gets Health Canada approval for OSA

Petition Update – A Major Step Forward for Patients

I have encouraging news to share with everyone who has supported this petition.

Health Canada has now approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults living with obesity. This makes it the first medication in Canada approved specifically for this condition.

This approval reinforces what many patients and healthcare providers have known for years: tirzepatide is more than a medication for weight loss. It is a treatment that can improve serious chronic diseases associated with obesity, including obstructive sleep apnea—a condition linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs.

Despite this important milestone, many Ontarians still cannot access tirzepatide because of its high monthly cost. For many patients, the medication remains financially out of reach.

This petition continues to call on the Government of Ontario to include tirzepatide on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary through appropriate eligibility criteria, such as Limited Use or the Exceptional Access Program, so that patients with legitimate medical need are not denied treatment solely because of cost.

Innovation only benefits patients when it is accessible.

If you have already signed this petition, please consider sharing it again with your friends, family, healthcare providers, and your local MPP. The recent Health Canada approval gives us renewed momentum to advocate for equitable access to this important treatment.

Thank you for your continued support.