Singapore, Aug 18, 2010: According to Datamonitor's new report "Pipeline and Commercial Insight: Insomnia - Future of innovative orexin drug class in doubt", Japan will represent the key growth region for the insomnia market over the next 10 years. In 2019, the value of the seven major insomnia markets is forecast to reach $3.5 billion.

However, growth of the US market is set to be inhibited by further generic erosion from 2011 onwards. The availability of generic versions of Ambien (zolpidem, Sanofi-Aventis) in the US from April 2007 is said to have intensified competition for both existing and prospective players in the insomnia market. Following the discontinuation of three 5-HT antagonists in late-stage development over 2009-2010, orexin receptor antagonists now represent the most innovative candidates in the insomnia pipeline.

Sanofi-Aventis' dominance in the insomnia market is under threat due to patent challenges to Ambien CR, and Datamonitor expects generic versions of this market-leading brand to enter the US over the forecast period. In the absence of pipeline insomnia candidates, Sanofi-Aventis is not expected to regain its market leading status.

Three orexin receptor antagonists are currently under late stage clinical development by two big pharma players: GlaxoSmithKline and Merck. While safety observations raised in a phase III trial of almorexant are of concern to developers, it has potential to become the most successful pipeline candidate.