Daridorexant increases total sleep time and shortened sleep latency insomnia patients in phase 3 data

The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of daridorexant. Patients were randomized to receive 50 or 25 mg doses of daridorexant or placebo once daily for 28 days.

The study met both primary and secondary efficacy endpoint measures. Daridorexant significantly improved sTST from baseline compared to placebo at 28 days (p<0.001 for 50 mg, p=0.042 for 25 mg). Daridorexant also significantly improved sleep onset as measured by a decrease in sLSO from baseline compared to placebo at 28 days (p<0.001 for 50 mg, p=0.006 for 25 mg).

The rate of adverse events was comparable between placebo and daridorexant at both treatment doses. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) during the double-blind study period were reported in 23.5% and 22.7%of the patients treated with 50 and 25 mg daridorexant, respectively (24.4% for placebo). The most frequent TEAEs reported over 3% incidence and higher than placebo were somnolence (6.8% and 3.7% for daridorexant 50 mg and 25 mg groups respectively, versus 2.4% in the placebo group), and pyrexia (0.6% and 3.7% for daridorexant 50 mg and 25 mg groups respectively, versus 1.2% in the placebo group).

Makoto Uchiyama, M.D., Ph.D., medical advisor of the Japanese Phase 3 study, Director of Tokyo Adachi Hospital, Visiting Professor of Nihon University, and Visiting Professor of Toho University commented:

"Insomnia is highly prevalent in Japan and is recognized as an important national health issue. Patients with insomnia have trouble falling or staying asleep, as well as waking up earlier than desired, all of which lead to detrimental effects on both physical and mental health.

This Phase 3 trial showed that daridorexant increased total sleep time and shortened sleep latency in patients with insomnia without marked hangover symptoms the next morning which clearly indicates its potency to improve core symptoms of insomnia. Such a promising outcome was likely due to the unique characteristics of the drug, a dual orexin receptor antagonist with an optimal elimination half-life."

Satoshi Tanaka, Dr Med Sci. and President of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Japan, commented:

"I want to say thank you to the patients who participated in the study, and the investigators and their staff for their dedication to running the study to a high quality. The Idorsia Japan team will now fully analyze the study data and I look forward to sharing the wealth of data generated with daridorexant with Japanese health authorities in the form of a new drug application for marketing authorization in Japan.

Together with our partner Mochida, the whole team is eager to rapidly make daridorexant available to Japanese patients with insomnia."

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