Astellas Pharma Inc. and sanofi-aventis Group (Japan) will start co-promotion of the non-benzodiazipine hypnotic Myslee tablets 5mg/10mg (zolpidem tartrate) for the treatment of insomnia, from April 2006.
Myslee was developed by Fujisawa Sanofi-Synthelabo Co. Ltd, a joint-venture company (JV) established by Fujisawa (now Astellas) and sanofi-aventis. The JV also has ownership of the rights for Myslee in Japan, while Astellas holds the distribution rights to the drug in Japan, states a company release.
Astellas has marketed the drug since its launch in December 2000. Under the new agreement, Astellas and sanofi-aventis will start co-promotion in April 2006, and aim to further expand the market leadership of Myslee in the Japanese market. Astellas will continue to be responsible for the drug’s manufacturing, distribution, and commercialization.
Zolpidem tartrate is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic with an imidazopyridine structure, and was discovered by the French company Synthelabo (now sanofi-aventis) in 1980. It is the world’s leading hypnotic with more than 12 billion treatment nights since launch.
Unlike benzodiazepine hypnotics, which interact non-selectively with many sub-types of GABA receptors, Myslee acts selectively. It does not interfere with the normal sleep rhythm, providing patients with a natural and restful sleep. Myslee leaves the system quickly so patients are more likely to wake the next morning feeling rested and refreshed. In addition, it has a lower potential for abuse compared to benzodiazepine, added the release.
Myslee was first launched in France in 1988 by sanofi-aventis, available in nearly 100 countries, under product names, Ambien and Stilnox.
In Japan, Myslee has been the leader in the hypnotic market since 2003.
Insomia is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period during the night. Lack of sleep can severely impact performance and overall health. In Japan, over 10million peoples suffer from insomnia.
The sanofi-aventis Group is the world’s third largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in Europe.