Tasimelteon, Sleep Disorder Drug, Shows Promising Result

Tasimelteon was able to pass the second trial which was late stage and the results were good. It is effective against a rare condition called NON-24: Non 24 hours sleep wake disorder.

NON -24 is a sleep cicadian rhythm disorder, the characteristics are like the person falls asleep and gets up hourly late, as the body clock cannot adjust properly to the cycle of dark and light. As a result people feel tired and exhausted during the day. The disorder is rare and can happen to 1 out of 2000 people; however it is common in people who are blind.  There is no approved treatment for it yet.

Vanda’s drug helps to regulate circadian rhythm and act as melatonin agonist. The master clock in hypothalamus is reset, that stabilizes cortisol and melatonin rhythms back to 24 hours cycle of night and day.
To check the safety and efficiency of the drug a study was conducted where people were treated.

Trial result were impressive
Tasimelteon was better as compared to Placebo, in the first late stage. 20mg of Tasimelteon was given to 20 patients for 2 months. The effectiveness of the drug was displayed in the first trial itself showing entertainment melatonin superiorly maintained in Tasimelteon patients.

The second trial had same results, where cortisol rhythm was maintained better in Tasimelteon as compared with Placebo patients. Hence they had normal and better sleep.

As said by Steven W. Lockley, Ph.D. from Division of Sleep Medicine in Brigham and Women's Hospital also he is Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate.

The result prove that Tasimelteon can entertain the circadian clock and to maintain the same the continue treatment is required. The entertainment should be also beneficial clinically and to treat NON-24 the master clock has to be entertainment needs to be maintained.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc shares have gone up after this and they said that approval request will be send this midyear.

Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, CEO M.D and President, Vanda said that –

“We are happy with the result as this will help us to treat blind Non-24 patients. Also the result made a mark that for treating Non-24 chronic therapy is important. Once it is approved we are sure that Non-24 patient’s life will improve.”