Insomnia
The challenge in insomnia treatment is striking a balance between rapid symptom relief and long-term safety. At Protheragen, we are committed to advancing the understanding and management of insomnia through cutting-edge therapeutic development and disease modeling services. Our goal is to provide end-to-end solutions for the entire process from insomnia therapeutic research to commercialization.
Overview of Insomnia
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by persistent difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, early morning awakenings, and non-restorative sleep despite adequate opportunity for sleep, leading to significant daytime impairment in cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall quality of life. With a chronic course often spanning years, it demonstrates high comorbidity with psychiatric and medical conditions and affects approximately 10-30% of the global population.
Fig.1 Causes and main treatments of insomnia. (Xiang Q, et al., 2023)
Pathogenesis of Insomnia
The pathogenesis of insomnia primarily involves a state of 24-hour hyperarousal affecting multiple physiological domains, driven by genetic vulnerabilities in neurotransmitter systems and circadian regulation, which interact with psychological and environmental factors to disrupt the balance between wake-promoting (orexin, histamine, norepinephrine) and sleep-promoting (GABA, adenosine) neural circuits, ultimately leading to persistent cognitive-emotional and physiological activation that prevents normal sleep initiation and maintenance.
Fig.2 Pathophysiology of insomnia. (Harleen Kaur, Pradeep C Bollu., 2018)
Therapeutic Development for Insomnia
| Drug Names | Mechanism of Action | Targets | Research Phase |
| Melatonin | Endogenous hormone regulating circadian rhythms; acts as a chronobiotic to synchronize the sleep-wake cycle. | Melatonin receptor MT1, MT2 | Approved |
| Eszopiclone | Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic; enhances inhibitory neurotransmission through positive allosteric modulation of GABA-A receptors. | GABA-A receptor | Approved |
| Zolpidem | Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic; selective positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors with preferential affinity for α1 subunit-containing isoforms. | GABA-A receptor | Approved |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
To advance the effective management of insomnia, Protheragen offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic development services, leveraging our extensive expertise and cutting-edge technologies. With a focus on the diverse molecular mechanisms driving insomnia, we are dedicated to developing innovative and targeted therapies that address the significant unmet medical needs. Our team excels in creating highly accurate disease models, enabling rigorous evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action of potential therapeutics.
Therapeutic Development Services
By Mechanism of Action
Disease Model Development Services
- BMAL1 Knockout Model
- Serotonin Depletion Model
- OXA/OX1R/OX2R Dysregulation Model
- Chronic Sleep Restriction Model
- GluN1 Peptide Immunization + Sleep Deprivation Model
At Protheragen, we are dedicated to supporting the development of innovative therapies through comprehensive preclinical research services. Our expertise spans pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetic (PK) and toxicology studies, ensuring a thorough evaluation of your therapeutic candidates. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Xiang Q, Liu Y, Wu Z, et al. New hints for improving sleep: Tea polyphenols mediate gut microbiota to regulate circadian disturbances[J]. Food Frontiers, 2023, 4(1): 47-59.
- Harleen Kaur, Pradeep C Bollu. Insomnia, Chronic[J]. 2018.