Meiji, Takeda enter into co-promotion agreement for insomnia drug Rozerem in Japan

Under the deal, Meiji will start promotional activities for Rozerem on 01 October, targeting psychiatric institutions covered by MRs fully dedicated to the CNS field.

Currently, the melatonin receptor agonist Rozerem is manufactured and marketed by Takeda, which will continue its current promotional activities which target all medical institutions, including psychiatric institutions.

Rozerem has a different functional mechanism from previously existing drugs for the treatment of insomnia and it works by selectively targeting two melatonin receptors in the brain, MT1 and MT2, which are located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus that regulates circadian (24-hour) rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle.

By acting on these receptors, the drug regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle and promotes natural sleep, thereby favorably impacting daytime QOL among other measures of wellbeing.

Through this partnership, the two companies will work towards the treatment of insomnia in the psychiatric field.