Lundbeck says sleep drug mimics body’s melatonin secretion

An insomnia treatment launched in Germany could be heading to the UK, its manufacturers say.

Lundbeck’s Circadin was approved by the EU and the company intends to launch it in an additional 14 markets this year.

Executive vice-president Stig Lokke Pederson said it is the first sleep drug to be introduced into Europe for almost a decade.

The drug “mimics the physiological profile of the body’s own melatonin secretion”, he explained.

“Circadin will be a highly valuable alternative to traditional sedative hypnotics, which share a number of drawbacks such as dependency and residual drowsiness,” he added.

The drug is a prolonged-release medicine containing melatonin, the natural hormone key to regulating the circadian rhythms and sleep.

It is aimed at improving the sleep quality of patients aged 55 years or over, the company stated.

Some recent studies have suggested that people who get a good night’s rest are less likely to be obese.