Tokyo, Apr 17, 2012 (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it will launch the insomnia treatment Lunesta(R) (eszopiclone) in Japan on April 18.
Lunesta, originally discovered and developed by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Sunovion"; formerly Sepracor Inc.; currently a U.S. subsidiary of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.), is the first non-benzodiazepine type GABAA agonist to be launched in Japan in 12 years, and is believed to enhance GABA activity while exerting hypnotic and sedative effects. Results from clinical studies conducted in both Japan and overseas demonstrated that the agent is effective in treating those patients who have trouble falling asleep or wake up often during the night, two major symptoms of insomnia. Moreover, a distinctive feature of Lunesta is that patients do not experience clinically problematic issues such as dependency or carry-over effects, or develop a tolerance (experience diminished efficacy) with long-term use.
