The field of sleep medicine continued to evolve in 2025, marked by diagnostic innovation, advancements in novel therapies and a shifting industry landscape. It was also a notable year for the AASM, with several milestones and new resources introduced to support clinicians and the public.

FDA approvals highlight diagnostic innovation
The FDA cleared a wide range of sleep-related devices, spanning hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea (Nyxoah’s Genio system), home sleep testing technologies (Compumedics’ Falcon HST and SomfitD and DormoTech’s DormoVision X) and wearables (Happy Health’s Happy Ring and PranaQ’s TipTraQ). Many of these technologies emphasized remote data collection, advanced analysis and expanded access to testing.

Collectively, these approvals reflected an ongoing shift toward flexible care models that extend beyond the traditional sleep laboratory while maintaining clinical rigor.

Emerging therapies for treating sleep disorders
Following the FDA’s late-2024 approval of Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first prescription medication indicated for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity, clinicians spent the year navigating how GLP-1 therapies fit into established treatment frameworks. As demand for GLP-1 medications surged in 2025, with about one in eight adults (12%) currently taking a GLP-1 drug, clinicians navigated new questions about patient selection, monitoring, contraindications, insurance hurdles and more.

A diverse pipeline of novel therapies continued to advance in 2025 as well. These included investigational oral treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, including Apnimed’s AD109 (a combination of aroxybutynin and atomoxetine) and Incannex’s IHL-42X (a combination of dronabinol and acetazolamide), which received FDA Fast Track designation in December.

Novel approaches, including LivaNova’s implantable proximal hypoglossal neurostimulator known as the aura6000 System, also progressed through clinical evaluation. Biotech company Mosanna Therapeutics launched with funding for the development of a nighttime nasal spray to treat sleep apnea.

Also in development are multiple orexin 2 receptor agonists for narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, including Alkermes’s ALKS 2680, Harmony Biosciences’ BP1.15205, and Takeda’s TAK-861. Avadel Pharmaceuticals is advancing real-world studies supporting the use of its extended-release sodium oxybate medication Lumryz for narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Changing sleep industry landscape
The industry landscape also continued to shift, with several major acquisitions. Pharmaceutical company Alkermes entered an agreement to buy Avadel Pharmaceuticals, neurotechnology company Beacon Biosignals acquired HSAT technology company CleveMed, and oral medical device creator Vivos Therapeutics signed an agreement to acquire the largest sleep center operator in Nevada. Meanwhile, major retailers such as Amazon and Kroger have made efforts to expand into the health care industry.

Together, these shifts reflect strategic repositioning across the industry as companies expand into new care models.

A milestone year for the AASM
The AASM celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, offering an opportunity to reflect on how the field has matured from a small subspecialty into a core component of modern medicine. That growth was visible at the SLEEP annual meeting in Seattle, which recorded the highest attendance in the conference’s 40-year history, drawing clinicians, researchers and industry leaders from around the world. More than 6,000 people made the meeting a success in 2025.

Workforce development also reached a new milestone. On Dec. 3, Match Day filled the highest number of sleep medicine fellowship positions to date, with 208 physicians matching with a sleep medicine fellowship training program for the 2026 appointment year.

Advancing clinical guidance
Clinical recommendations continued to evolve in 2025 as well. The AASM published several new clinical practice guidelines, including treatment recommendations for central sleep apnea, guidance on managing obstructive sleep apnea in medically hospitalized adults, and updated recommendations for restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.

The AASM also issued a new position statement highlighting the clinical significance of sleepiness, emphasizing that sleepiness is a serious health concern with wide-reaching consequences. In November, the AMA House of Delegates adopted an AASM-driven policy recognizing the clinical importance of sleepiness, a development with potential implications for patient care standards.

AASM’s new resources and initiatives
The AASM introduced new tools and initiatives this year. These included a new patient-reported outcome tool for sleep apnea, known as PLATO, upgrades to the Sleep ISR scoring platform and the launch of AASM Link, an AI-powered clinical resource. The AASM also launched an initiative to advance women’s sleep health, forming a new task force to explore the unique factors affecting women’s sleep and identifying ways to improve sleep care for women.

Advocacy remained a focus throughout the year. Amid a shifting political landscape, the AASM urged federal agencies to protect telehealth flexibilities and highlighted the risks of fatigue on air travel safety during the longest government shutdown in history. The AASM also called for federal support of sleep and circadian research and emphasized the importance of quality sleep for children’s development, well-being and long-term health.

2025 in review
Overall, 2025 marked meaningful progress in sleep medicine, with advances in diagnostic technologies and emerging therapies shaping care across the field. These developments unfolded alongside shifts in the sleep industry and continued AASM efforts to support clinicians and patients.