Merck : Results Presented from Phase IIb Clinical Study of its Investigational Insomnia Therapy MK-4305

June 9, 2010 - Data Reported at SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies – Clinical results from a Phase IIb study showed that MK-4305, Merck's investigational dual orexin receptor antagonist, was significantly more effective than placebo (p inf. 0.005) in improving overall sleep efficiency at night one and at the end of week four in patients with primary insomnia. MK-4305 was generally well-tolerated in the study. Orexins are neuropeptides (chemical messengers) that are released by specialized neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain and are believed to be an important regulator of the brain’s sleep-wake process. The data were presented for the first time at the SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Phase III trials studying the efficacy and safety of MK-4305 in elderly and non-elderly insomnia patients are ongoing. Merck anticipates filing regulatory applications for MK-4305 in 2012.

"Since the discovery and characterization of orexin over the past decade as an important component of the sleep-wake system, Merck has been actively committed to discovering and developing potential interventions for sleep disorders that target the orexin receptors. We are encouraged by these phase II results showing positive effects of MK-4305 in patients with primary insomnia,”... Merck's Press Release -

Covidien : Definitive Agreement to Sell Sleep Therapy Product Line

Jun 01, 2010 - Covidien Announces Portfolio Management Activities - Definitive Agreement to Sell Sleep Therapy Product Line - Completion of Sale of U.S. Radiopharmacies - Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced a definitive agreement to sell its Sleep Therapy continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and Bi-level products to PH Invest, a privately held company located in Luxembourg.

PH Invest will acquire the CPAP and Bi-level products, including the Nancy, France manufacturing facility, as well as related commercial operations in Europe. Several products, which are sold under the GoodKnight(TM) and Sandman(TM) brands, are included in this agreement. The agreement excludes the sleep interface products sold and marketed under the brand names Adam(TM), Breeze(TM) and Dreamfit(TM), which will continue to be sold by Covidien. Financial terms of this transaction were not disclosed... Covidien's Press Release -

Sanofi-aventis and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical : New Joint Venture for Generics in Japan

May 28, 2010 - Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Nichi-Iko) (Osaka Stock Exchange and Nagoya Stock Exchange: NIK) announced that they have signed an agreement to establish a new joint venture, called sanofi-aventis Nichi-Iko K.K., in order to develop a generic business in Japan.
The new joint venture will be held at 51% by sanofi-aventis K.K. and at 49% by Nichi-Iko. In addition, sanofi-aventis will acquire 1,524,500 shares of Nichi-Iko, to be issued through a third-party allocation, and as a result will hold 4.66% of Nichi-Iko. Nichi-Iko is the leader and fastest growing generics company in Japan, with 2009 sales reaching 54.8 billion JPY - around 460 million Euros...

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...As a first step, the joint venture will take over the marketing and distribution rights in Japan for the antiinsomnia agent Amoban (zopiclone) from sanofi-aventis K.K. AmobanTM sales reached 5.1 billion Yen - or 43 million Euros* in 2009. Nichi-Iko will ensure the promotion and distribution of AmobanTM through its large network of pharmacies, wholesalers and medical institutions... [PDF] Sanofi-aventis' Press Release - [PDF, Japanese] Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical's Press Release -

Allergan and Serenity Pharmaceuticals : Agreement for the Treatment of Nocturia

Apr 01, 2010 -- Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) and Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC announced a global agreement for the development and commercialization of Ser-120, a Phase III investigational drug currently in clinical development for the treatment of nocturia, a common yet often under-diagnosed urological disorder in adults characterized by frequent urination at night time.
Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan receives exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize Ser-120. The agreement encompasses all potential indications except Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (pediatric bedwetting). Allergan will make an upfront payment to Serenity of $43 million, potential development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $122 million, future potential sales milestones, and royalty payments on worldwide sales... Allergan's Press Release -

Circadiance : NEW Wilderness Dream Series™ CPAP Masks

May 17, 2010 - Circadiance, the world leader in soft cloth nasal CPAP masks, announces two new colors for their revolutionary SleepWeaver mask – camouflage and leopard.

These Wilderness Dream Series colors represent the company’s deliberate decision to offer users more exciting choices in nasal CPAP masks, and wake up a sleepy industry with custom designs... Circadiance's Press Releases -