Zeus Sleep Ltd has been awarded £1.48 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to lead one of the UK’s largest multi-centre clinical trials into Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
The trial will be led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London, and will evaluate a next-generation, non-invasive medical device designed to address sleep apnoea by stimulating the airway at the source.
The funding follows new consumer research from Zeus Sleep, which found that 56% of adults say snoring has either a significant or slight negative impact on their lives. More than a third (36%) report being forced to sleep in a separate room or on the sofa, while 11% say ongoing snoring could cause their relationship to deteriorate.
Zeus Sleep’s first consumer anti-snoring device is already available in the UK, helping individuals and their partners reduce night-time disruption. Building on this success, the company is now preparing to launch a regulated medical device for OSA in early 2026, informed by the NIHR-funded trial and supported by evidence from three earlier clinical studies.
OSA affects an estimated eight million people in the UK and more than one billion globally. The condition is characterised by repeated airway collapse during sleep, leading to fragmented rest, excessive daytime fatigue, increased cardiovascular risk and a higher likelihood of accidents.
While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy remains the NHS gold standard, more than half of patients abandon treatment within a year due to discomfort or inconvenience, often leaving lifestyle advice as the only alternative.
The ZeusOSA device is worn discreetly under the chin at night and delivers gentle electrical stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, helping maintain airway patency during sleep. Unlike surgically implanted nerve stimulators, the device is non-invasive, designed for home use and significantly more affordable, positioning it as a potentially scalable solution for NHS adoption.
Earlier trials, including an NHS study in Dorset, have shown encouraging outcomes. In these studies, 84% of participants reported improved sleep quality, 78% experienced better daytime functioning and 68% reported reduced daytime sleepiness. Crucially, adherence reached 85%, far exceeding typical CPAP compliance rates.
Professor Joerg Steier, chief investigator of the new trial, said: “Obstructive sleep apnoea is highly prevalent, yet CPAP non-adherence leaves too many patients without effective care. The Zeus device has demonstrated promising results with good tolerance in home use. This NIHR-funded trial will provide the robust evidence needed to support NHS decision-making.”
Beyond physical health, the research highlights broader wellbeing concerns. More than a quarter of respondents (26%) fear constant snoring leaves them permanently tired, while 13% say it causes or worsens anxiety. One in ten said they would pay whatever it takes to stop snoring permanently.
Nigel Clarke, chief executive of Zeus Sleep, said the funding marks a major milestone. “Our consumer device is already improving lives, and with NIHR support and our clinical partners, we can now build the evidence needed to bring a medical version into the NHS,” he said. “Our goal is simple: to help people sleep better, feel better and live better.”
If successful, the trial could pave the way for a new era in sleep medicine, offering millions of patients a practical alternative to CPAP and reducing the long-term burden of untreated sleep apnoea on the NHS.
