This randomized clinical trial examines the effectiveness of treatment with lemborexant therapy compared with placebo and with zolpidem tartrate extended release therapy in adults 55 years and older with insomnia disorder. Question Does lemborexant therapy effectively treat insomnia disorder in patients 55 years and older compared with placebo and zolpidem tartrate extended release therapy? Findings In this randomized double-blind clinical trial of 1006 participants 55 years and older with insomnia disorder, lemborexant therapy significantly improved both latency to persistent sleep and sleep maintenance (wake-after-sleep onset and sleep efficiency) compared objectively via polysomnography with both placebo and zolpidem tartrate extended release therapy. Efficacy was also demonstrated on patient-reported end points of sleep onset, sleep efficiency, and wake-after-sleep onset for both doses of lemborexant compared with placebo. Meaning Lemborexant therapy may provide an additional option for sleep onset and sleep maintenance difficulties in older patients with insomnia disorder. Importance Insomnia disorder is prevalent and associated with health risks in older adults; however, efficacy and safety issues with existing treatments create significant unmet needs in this patient population. Objective To compare treatment with the orexin receptor antagonist lemborexant with placebo and zolpidem tartrate extended release in participants with insomnia disorder. Design, Setting, and Participants The Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Lemborexant in Subjects 55 Years and Older With Insomnia Disorder (SUNRISE 1) clinical trial was a global randomized double-blind parallel-group placebo-controlled active-comparator phase 3 study conducted at 67 sites in North America and Europe from May 31, 2016, to January 30, 2018. Data analyses were conducted from January 31, 2018, to September 10, 2018. Participants were 55 years and older with insomnia disorder characterized by reported sleep maintenance difficulties and confirmed by sleep history, sleep diary, and polysomnography. Participants could have also had sleep onset difficulties. Interventions Participants received placebo, zolpidem tartrate extended release (6.25 mg), or lemborexant (5 mg or 10 mg) for 1 month at bedtime. Main Outcomes and Measures Paired polysomnograms were collected at baseline, the first 2 nights, and the last 2 nights of treatment. The primary end point was the change from baseline in latency to persistent sleep for lemborexant therapy vs placebo. Key secondary end points were changes from baseline in sleep efficiency and wake-after-sleep onset compared with placebo, and wake-after-sleep onset in the second half of the night compared with zolpidem therapy. Results Among 1006 participants randomized (placebo, n = 208; zolpidem, n = 263; lemborexant 5 mg, n = 266; and lemborexant 10 mg, n = 269), 869 (86.4%) were women and the median age was 63 years (range, 55-88 years). Both doses of lemborexant therapy demonstrated statistically significant greater changes from baseline on objective sleep onset as assessed by latency to persistent sleep (log transformed) that was measured using polysomnography at the end of 1 month of treatment (nights 29 and 30) compared with placebo (primary end point for least squares geometric means treatment ratio vs placebo: for lemborexant 5 mg, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.89; P < .001; for lemborexant 10 mg, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63-0.83; P < .001). For nights 29 and 30, as measured using polysomnography, the mean change from baseline in sleep efficiency (LSM treatment difference vs placebo for lemborexant 5 mg, 7.1%; 95% CI, 5.6%-8.5%; P < .001 and for lemborexant 10 mg, 8.0%; 95% CI, 6.6%-9.5%; P < .001) and wake-after-sleep onset (least squares mean treatment ratio vs placebo for lemborexant 5 mg, −24.0 min; 95% CI, −30.0 to −18.0 min; P < .001 and for lemborexant 10 mg, −25.4 min; 95% CI, −31.4 to −19.3 min; P < .001) were significantly greater for both doses of lemborexant therapy compared with placebo. Also, for nights 29 and 30, wake-after-sleep onset in the second half of the night (least squares mean treatment difference vs zolpidem for lemborexant 5 mg, −6.7 min; 95% CI, −11.2 to −2.2 min; P = .004 and for lemborexant 10 mg, −8.0 min; 95% CI, −12.5 to −3.5 min; P < .001) was significantly greater for both doses of lemborexant therapy compared with zolpidem therapy measured using polysomnography. Six participants (4 in the zolpidem group and 2 in the lemborexant 5 mg group) reported serious adverse events; none were treatment-related. Other adverse events were mostly mild or moderate in severity. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, lemborexant therapy significantly improved both sleep onset and sleep maintenance, including in the second half of the night, compared with both placebo and zolpidem measured objectively using polysomnography. Lemborexant therapy was well tolerated. Trial Registrations ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02783729 ; EudraCT identifier: 2015-001463-39
