Botulinum Toxin in the Palatopharyngeal Muscle for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Summary

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by recurrent collapse of the upper airway during sleep, in which the palatopharyngeal muscle plays a key role in pathophysiology. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the standard treatment, adherence is often suboptimal. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), a peripheral neuromodulator, has been proposed as a potential therapeutic alternative by inducing chemodenervation and muscle volume reduction, thereby potentially increasing upper airway patency. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BoNT-A injection into the palatopharyngeal muscle in patients with moderate to severe OSA. This is a prospective, single-arm, interventional clinical trial with pre- and post-intervention assessment. We hypothesize that the intervention will result in a significant reduction in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), along with improvements in secondary outcomes such as excessive daytime sleepiness and oxygenation parameters.

Timeline

Start

2026-04-05

Primary completion

2026-09-01

Completion

2026-09-01

Publications

• Background Swislocki ALM, Eisenberg ML. Peyronie Disease as a Marker of Inflammation-Is There Hope on the Horizon? Am J Med. 2021 Oct;134(10):1218-1223. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.06.015. Epub 2021 Jul 14.
• Results Dempsey JA, Veasey SC, Morgan BJ, O'Donnell CP. Pathophysiology of sleep apnea. Physiol Rev. 2010 Jan;90(1):47-112. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00043.2008.

Drugs

Indications