Eisai Launches In-House Developed Anti-Insomnia Drug DAYVIGO(R) (Lemborexant) in China
TOKYO, August 18, 2025 – (JCN Newswire) – Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) announced today that the in-house discovered and developed orexin receptor antagonist DAYVIGO® (brand name in China: “DAYVIGO®“ generic name: lemborexant) has launched in China for the treatment of adults with insomnia, characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance. Eisai received approval for DAYVIGO in China on May 27, 2025. This marks the first orexin receptor antagonist to be launched in China.
DAYVIGO is a dual orexin receptor antagonist that inhibits orexin neurotransmission regulating sleep-wake rhythm by binding competitively to the two subtypes of orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R). Unlike conventional treatments such as benzodiazepines that act directly on sleepiness, DAYVIGO acts on the orexin neurotransmitter system, which regulates wakefulness. DAYVIGO is believed to facilitate sleep on set and sleep maintenance, and wake by regulating sleep-wake rhythm by suppressing hyperactive wakefulness. DAYVIGO binds to orexin receptors OX1R and OX2R and acts as a competitive antagonist with stronger inhibition effect on OX2R, which suppresses both REM and non-REM sleep drive, such that DAYVIGO may provide faster sleep onset and better sleep maintenance to patients.
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both despite an adequate opportunity to sleep, that has occured at lea