Merck’s Phase III trials for suvorexant, an investigational medicine for the treatment of insomnia, determined that suvorexant’s 15 mg and 20 mg doses were effective and generally well-tolerated over 3 months in adult patients with insomnia. The data was presented at the SLEEP show.
Based on the analysis, the product reduced how long it took patients to fall asleep while increasing how long it took patients to stay asleep, as early as the first night and at 3 months compared to placebo.
Suvorexant targets insomnia in a way that is different from current treatments, the company says. The investigational medicine targets and inhibits the actions of orexins, neurotransmitters in a specific part of the brain that play a role in keeping a person awake.
