Merck & Co., Inc. Says New Insomnia Drug Was Effective in a Year-Long Test

Merck & Co Inc said its experimental insomnia drug maintained effectiveness for twelve months in a late-stage study, the first sleep aid ever tested for a full year, and reaffirmed it plans in 2012 to seek marketing approval for the medicine. Frank Clyburn, Merck's president of primary care medicine, said data from the study of suvorexant will be presented next week. The medicine works through a new mechanism of action. Clyburn, speaking to the annual Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference in New York, said suvorexant is among six experimental drugs that Merck will submit to regulators for approval in 2012 and 2013.