A Study to Evaluate Next-Dose Transition From Zolpidem to Lemborexant (LEM) for the Treatment of Insomnia

Eisai

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Insomnia

Treatments: Drug: LEM 5 mg; Drug: LEM 10 mg

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT04009577

E2006-A001-312

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the proportion of adult [greater than or equal to (>=) 18 years] participants with insomnia disorder taking zolpidem tartrate immediate release (ZOL-IR) or zolpidem tartrate extended release (ZOL-ER), intermittently or frequently, who transition to lemborexant 5 milligram (mg) (LEM5) or 10 mg (LEM10) after 2 weeks of receiving LEM.

Enrollment: 53 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed (DSM-5) criteria for Insomnia Disorder, either currently or prior to zolpidem use, as follows:

   • Complains of dissatisfaction with nighttime sleep, in the form of difficulty staying asleep and/or awakening earlier in the morning than desired despite adequate opportunity for sleep
   • Frequency of complaint >=3 times per week
   • Duration of complaint >=3 months
   • Associated with complaint of daytime impairment

2. Reports spending at least 7 hours in bed per night

3. History of intermittent [taking zolpidem at least 3 or 4 nights per week], or frequent use (at least 5 nights per week) of ZOL-IR or ZOL-ER, for at least 1 month

4. Confirmation of intermittent or frequent use of zolpidem (based on review of drug use data). Intermittent use is defined as taking zolpidem at least 3 but fewer than 5 nights per week, for at least 2 weeks each of the 3-week Screening Period. Frequent use is defined as taking zolpidem at least 5 nights per week, during, at minimum, the last 2 weeks of the 3-week Screening Period

5. Willing and able to comply with all aspects of the protocol, including staying in bed for at least 7 hours each night

6. Willing not to start another pharmacologic treatment for the management of insomnia during the participant's participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

1. Females who are breastfeeding or pregnant at screening or baseline (as documented by a positive serum pregnancy test). A separate baseline assessment is required if a negative screening pregnancy test was obtained more than 72 hours before the first dose of study drug

2. Females of childbearing potential who:

   Within 28 days before study entry, did not use a highly effective method of contraception, which includes any of the following:

   • total abstinence (if it is their preferred and usual lifestyle)
   • an intrauterine device or intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS)
   • a contraceptive implant
   • an oral contraceptive (Participant must be on a stable dose of the same oral contraceptive product for at least 28 days before dosing and throughout the study and for 28 days after study drug discontinuation)
   • have a vasectomized partner with confirmed azoospermia
   • Do not agree to use a highly effective method of contraception (as described above) throughout the entire study period and for 28 days after study drug discontinuation NOTE: All females will be considered to be of childbearing potential unless they are postmenopausal (amenorrheic for at least 12 consecutive months, in the appropriate age group, and without other known or suspected cause) or have been sterilized surgically (ie, bilateral tubal ligation, total hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy, all with surgery at least 1 month before dosing)

3. Any history of moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

4. Current evidence of a clinically significant, active respiratory disorder other than mild OSA. This includes bronchiectasis, emphysema, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or any other pulmonary disorder identified by review of medical history or physical examination, and which in the opinion of the investigator, could compromise the participant's safety or interfere with study assessments

5. A current diagnosis of periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, or an exclusionary score on screening instruments to rule out individuals with symptoms of certain sleep disorders other than insomnia as follows:

   • STOP-Bang score >=5 (participants previously diagnosed with mild OSA are not excluded)
   • International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) score >=16

6. Habitually naps during the day more than 3 times per week

7. Reports symptoms potentially related to narcolepsy, that in the clinical opinion of the investigator indicates the need for referral for a diagnostic evaluation for the presence of narcolepsy

8. Reports a history of sleep-related violent behavior, or sleep driving, or any other complex sleep-related behavior (eg, making phone calls or preparing and eating food while sleeping), whether spontaneous or associated with a pharmacological sleep agent

9. Takes a dose of ZOL-IR greater (>)10 mg per night, or ZOL-ER >12.5 mg per night

10. Takes a dose of zolpidem that is lower than what is prescribed

11. Reports having altered zolpidem tablets

12. Unwilling to forgo alcohol consumption within 3 hours of bedtime for the duration of participation in the study

13. Used any prohibited prescription or over-the-counter concomitant medications within 1-week or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, before the first dose of study medication (A list of prohibited concomitant medications is presented in the protocol)

14. Used any pharmacologic modality of treatment for insomnia other than zolpidem, including marijuana, within 1-week or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, before the Screening Period

15. A prolonged difference between QTc corrected by Fridericia's formulas (QTcF) interval [QTcF >450 millisecond (ms)] as demonstrated by a repeated electrocardiogram

16. Any suicidal ideation with intent with or without a plan at Screening or within 6 months of Screening (ie, answering "Yes" to questions 4 or 5 on the Suicidal Ideation section of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale [C-SSRS])

17. Any lifetime suicidal behavior (per the Suicidal Behavior section of the C-SSRS)

18. Evidence of clinically significant disease (eg, cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal disease) that in the opinion of the investigator(s) could affect the participant's safety or interfere with the study assessments. Participants for whom a sedating drug would be contraindicated for safety reasons because of the participant's occupation or activities are also excluded

19. Hypersensitivity to LEM or any of the excipients

20. Any history of or concomitant medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator(s) would compromise the participant's ability to safely complete the study

21. Planned surgery that requires general, spinal, or epidural anesthesia that would take place during the study. Planned surgery, which requires only local anesthesia and which can be undertaken as a day case without inpatient stay postoperatively, need not result in exclusion if in the opinion of the investigator this operation does not interfere with the study procedures and patient safety

22. Psychotic disorder(s) or unstable recurrent affective disorder(s) evident by use of antipsychotics or prior suicide attempt(s) within approximately the last 2 years

23. History of drug or alcohol dependency or abuse within approximately the last 2 years

24. Currently enrolled in another clinical study or used any investigational drug or device within 28 days or 5 times the half-life, whichever is longer, preceding informed consent

25. Previously participated in any clinical trial of LEM

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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53 participants in 3 patient groups

Cohort 1 (LEM 5 mg)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants who were taking zolpidem tartrate (ZOL) at least 3 but fewer than 5 nights per week, for each of at least 2 weeks of the 3-week Screening Period, will initially receive LEM 5 mg administered as a tablet, orally for up to 2 weeks. Participants who meet both criteria for intermittent (Cohort 1) and frequent ZOL use (Cohort 2A and 2B) for 1 week each of the last 2 weeks of the 3-week Screening Period will be assigned to Cohort 1 and also will receive LEM 5mg.

Treatment:

Drug: LEM 5 mg

Cohort 2A (LEM 5 mg)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants who were taking ZOL at least 5 nights per week, during, at minimum, the last 2 weeks of the 3-week Screening Period, will initially receive LEM 5 mg administered as a tablet, orally for up to 2 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: LEM 5 mg

Cohort 2B (LEM 10 mg)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants who were taking ZOL at least 5 nights per week, during, at minimum, the last 2 weeks of the 3-week Screening Period, will initially receive LEM 10 mg administered as a tablet, orally for up to 2 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: LEM 10 mg