The drug is currently entering Phase III clinical development
Singapore: The US arm of Japan's Eisai has entered into a worldwide collaboration with Purdue Pharma to develop and commercialize Eisai's clinical candidate lemborexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist for teh treatment of insomnia. The drug is currently entering Phase III clinical development.
As per the terms, the financial costs of clinical studies, promotion and marketing of the drug will be borne by both the partners. While the potential indication for the product candidate is for the treatment of insomnia, the companies may also seek to develop other indications in the future.
Insomnia drug, Lemborexant is a dual orexin receptor antagonist which competitively binds to the two subtypes of orexin receptors.It is believed that the orexin system promotes wakefulness, and therefore, orexin receptor antagonists such as lemborexant have the potential to promote sleep.
Mr Lynn D Kramer, MD, FAAN, president of the Neuroscience and General Medicine Product Creation Unit at Eisai, said in a release, "Eisai is excited about the significant and far-reaching potential of this compound as we commence Phase III clinical trials. We are looking forward to collaborating with Purdue Pharma, which brings deep expertise and proven successes in drug development and commercialization."
"This agreement reflects our strategy to diversify and grow our business through partnerships and business development," said, Mr Mark Timney, president and CEO of Purdue Pharma LP, "We look forward to a productive relationship with Eisai and the prospects for growth this collaboration brings, as we seek to further expand our product portfolio with differentiated treatments."
