Nxera Pharma and Shionogi Launch QUVIVIQ in Japan for Insomnia Treatment

Published: 20 Dec 2024

Author: Precedence Research

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Nxera Pharma, together with Shionogi & Co., Ltd., has launched QUVIVIQ™, an adult insomnia treatment that acts as a Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist (DORA). The drug works on wake-promoting neuropeptides OX1R and OX2R to initiate and maintain sleep while avoiding hangover-like effects the following day. It is available as 25 mg and 50 mg oral tablets. QUVIVIQ™ has passed through several rigorous evaluation phases, including successful Phase 3 trials conducted in Japan and approval from Japanese regulators on September 24, 2024. It has been approved and marketed by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in the United States, Europe, and Canada.

Nxera Pharma and Shionogi have launched the novel insomnia treatment QUVIVIQ™, addressing a chronic sleeping condition that interferes with daily functioning and overall quality of life. Insomnia is emerging as a health problem today; around 20% of Japanese adults face it. Long-term implications are possible for both mental and physical health. With high levels of wakefulness being targeted through the introduction of QUVIVIQ™, the drug works via a dual-orexin inhibition mechanism that has proven efficacy in improving sleep patterns without the residual effects that typically accompany traditional sedative-hypnotics. The product's retail price is JPY57.30 per 25 mg tablet and JPY90.80 for the 50 mg tablet, making it affordable for insomnia patients. Shionogi is concentrating on "Quality of Life" initiatives that prioritize QOL programs like QUVIVIQ™, as this product will form the backbone of its foray into therapeutic areas traditionally insulated from the effects of market fluctuations.

Commitment to Addressing Unmet Needs

Nxera Pharma, previously known as Sosei Heptares, is leveraging its NxWave™ GPCR-targeted drug discovery platform for innovative medicines addressing significant unmet needs in neurology, gastroenterology, immunology, and rare diseases. The company aims to change the face of specialty medicine. Shionogi and Nxera Pharma have partnered to change the world by launching medicines such as QUVIVIQ™ for the betterment of patients' lives.

QUVIVIQ™ is predicted to be very promising in Japan and worldwide, thanks to its innovative science, strategic collaborations, and increasing drug requirements for effective insomnia treatment. Approximately 20% of Japanese adults suffer from sleep disorders, and QUVIVIQ™ will bridge this gap by targeting wake-promoting neuropeptides, resulting in better sleep quality with fewer residual effects. The drug launch in Japan complements Nxera Pharma and Shionogi's strategic objectives in dominating the quality-of-life therapeutics segment. The drug is US-approved and European-approved, tagging it for continued worldwide growth. With Shionogi's distribution and marketing abilities, QUVIVIQ™ will be delivered efficiently to a wide-reaching patient population. Therefore, insomnia research as a health factor has momentum, critically supporting overall wellness.