TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

BELSOMRA (suvorexant)

Orexin Receptor Antagonists Trial Activity: Mature 9 active trials
Sleep Approved 2014-08-13

BELSOMRA is indicated for the treatment of Insomnia.

Source: FDA Label • Merck • Orexin Receptor Antagonist

How BELSOMRA Works

Suvorexant is an orexin receptor antagonist. It works by blocking the binding of wake-promoting neuropeptides, orexin A and orexin B, to the OX1R and OX2R receptors in the brain. By antagonizing this system, the medication suppresses the physiological wake drive to facilitate sleep.

Development Insights

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC conducting 9 trials (24%)
48 indications explored (Broad Platform)
insomnia (18 trials)
alcohol use disorder (aud) (2 trials)
opioid-use disorder (2 trials)
2
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
11
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
2014-08-13
Patent Cliff
2033

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Routes
ORAL
Dosage Forms
TABLET

Companies

Active Ingredient: SUVOREXANT

BELSOMRA Approval History

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
40 FDA actions from 2014 to 2025 · 1 indication expansions
Mar 2025 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Mar 2021 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Mar 2020 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What BELSOMRA Treats

1 indications

BELSOMRA is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 2014. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Insomnia
Source: FDA Label

BELSOMRA Competitive Set

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Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

Drugs Similar to BELSOMRA

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Clinical Trial Registry

37 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT06484075 10001561 001561-AA Ph 1, Ph 2 recruiting Suvorexant for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Neural Mechanisms
NCT05593653 results posted 2022P000768 Ph 4 completed Treating Insomnia and Improving Metabolic Health in Midlife Women With Insomnia
NCT06788522 MHBP-006-24S Ph 4 not yet recruiting The Effects of Orexin Antagonism on Fear Extinction in PTSD
NCT06655883 4305-098 MK-4305-098 Ph 3 recruiting A Study of Suvorexant (MK-4305) for the Treatment of Insomnia Disorder in Participants With Opioid Use Disorder (MK-4305-098)
NCT05546554 IRB-67222 1P50HD109861 Ph 2 recruiting Trial of Suvorexant for Sleep in Children With Autism
NCT06584942 2024P002380 Ph 4 recruiting Evaluation of Suvorexant for Reduction of Brain Reactivity in Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder (Pilot Study)
NCT04287062 IRB00223942 U01HL150835 Ph 2 completed Examining the Role of the Orexin System in Sleep and Stress in Persons With Opioid Use Disorder
NCT04014387 20181608 Ph 4 completed Treatment of Disturbed Sleep in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
NCT05145764 IRB00301337 UH3DA048734 Ph 2 recruiting Suvorexant as an Adjunct to Buprenorphine in Persons Who Use Fentanyl
NCT06679062 SUV AS210006-A10 Ph 2 recruiting Suvorexant for Treatment of AUD and PTSD
NCT03642028 MHBB-009-17F 1I01CX001814-01 Ph 4 recruiting Suvorexant: A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist for Treating Sleep Disturbance in Posttraumatic Stress
NCT06834386 24-005893 NCI-2025-00771, 24-005893 Ph 4 withdrawn Suvorexant for Insomnia to Prevent Delirium in Hospitalized Cancer Patients
NCT05106153 CR109099 42847922MDD1017 Ph 1 completed A Study to Determine the Abuse Potential of Seltorexant Compared to Suvorexant and Zolpidem
NCT03110315 DREAM results posted TRB 2017.2 Ph 4 completed A Study of Suvorexant in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue and Insomnia
NCT04571944 results posted 4305-085 MK-4305-085, jRCT2031200149 Ph 3 completed Efficacy and Safety of Suvorexant (MK-4305) for Reducing Incidence of Delirium in Japanese Participants at High Risk of Delirium (MK-4305-085)
NCT04262193 DORA, Sleep and Opioid Use Ph 2 terminated Dual-Orexin Antagonism As a Mechanism for Improving Sleep and Drug Abstinence in Opioid Use Disorder
NCT03818581 results posted 2019P000076 Ph 4 completed Suvorexant on Sleep Disturbance in Patients With Chronic Insomnia and Suboptimally Controlled Type 2 Diabetes
NCT02729714 results posted DJB-2015-01 Ph 4 completed A Pilot Study of Suvorexant for Insomnia in Parkinson Disease
NCT05823844 AAAU4343 Ph 4 recruiting Efficacy of Suvorexant on Post-operative Sleep Disturbance
NCT04706091 results posted 2020P003535 Ph 4 completed Efficacy of Suvorexant in Patients With Effectively Treated Restless Legs Syndrome and Persistent Chronic Insomnia
NCT02849548 results posted GHUCCTS2016-0377 1K01MH110647-01A1 Ph 4 completed Suvorexant and Sleep's Benefits to Therapeutic Exposure for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
NCT02704754 results posted GHUCCTS2015-1333 Ph 4 completed Suvorexant and Trauma Related Insomnia
NCT02527564 results posted 53208 Ph 4 completed Efficacy of Suvorexant to Treat Insomnia Related to Bipolar Disorder
NCT03034018 results posted 2016P002667 Ph 4 completed Efficacy of Suvorexant in the Treatment of Hot Flash-associated Insomnia
NCT02593682 results posted 2015078 Ph 4 completed The Role of Orexin in Human Panic Disorder
NCT02684136 results posted FM16 Ph 4 terminated Suvorexant in Insomnia Co-morbid With Fibromyalgia
NCT02491788 results posted IRB-34778 Ph 4 completed Examination of the Effectiveness of Suvorexant in Improving Daytime Sleep in Shift Workers
NCT02785406 results posted HSC-MS-16-0120 Ph 2 completed Role of the Orexin Receptor System in Stress, Sleep and Cocaine Use
NCT02750306 results posted 4305-061 2015-003154-40, MK-4305-061 Ph 3 completed Safety and Efficacy of Suvorexant (MK-4305) for the Treatment of Insomnia in Participants With Alzheimer's Disease (MK-4305-061)
NCT03657355 ID-078-107 Ph 1 completed Study to Evaluate the Abuse Potential of ACT-541468 in Healthy Recreational Drug Users
NCT02849184 Super1 results posted 4305-063 Ph 4 completed To Compare the Effectiveness of Suvorexant vs Placebo on Sleep Pressure in Hypertensives With Insomnia
NCT01059851 results posted 4305-023 2010_505 Ph 1 completed Pharmacokinetics of Suvorexant in Participants With Impaired Renal Function (MK-4305-023)(COMPLETED)
NCT00792298 results posted 4305-006 2008_583 Ph 2 completed Phase IIB 2-Period Crossover Polysomnography Study in Participants With Primary Insomnia (MK-4305-006)
NCT01300455 results posted 4305-036 Ph 1 completed Effects of Suvorexant in Participants With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (MK-4305-036)
NCT01043926 results posted 4305-017 2010_500 Ph 1 completed Pharmacokinetics of Suvorexant in Participants With Hepatic Insufficiency (MK-4305-017)
NCT01021813 results posted 4305-009 2009_696 Ph 3 completed A Long Term Safety Study of Suvorexant in Participants With Primary Insomnia (MK-4305-009 AM3)
NCT01293006 results posted 4305-032 Ph 1 completed Effects of Suvorexant in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (MK-4305-032)
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Active Pipeline

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Ongoing clinical trials by development phase

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Key Completed Trials

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Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

BELSOMRA FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

BELSOMRA is indicated for the treatment of Insomnia.

View full patent landscape →
3 OB patents · 2 families · 95 international docs across 35 countries

BELSOMRA Patents & Exclusivity

Latest Patent: May 2033

Patents (3 active)

US11980623 Expires May 29, 2033
US10098892 Expires May 29, 2033
US7951797 Expires Nov 20, 2029
Source: FDA Orange Book

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Deep insights for BELSOMRA

Revenue Insights

  • Quarterly revenue tracking
  • Historical trend analysis

Patent Timeline

  • Cliff: 2033
  • 48 active patents

Trial Analysis

  • 37 total trials
  • Stage: Mature

Competitive Landscape

  • 17 similar drugs
  • Same target/indication analysis
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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.

How We Calculate These Metrics

Trial Activity Stage

Measures the current development activity pattern based on trial phases, status, and trends. Important: This measures R&D activity, not commercial lifecycle.

Trial statuses: "Active" means recruiting or ongoing. "Completed" means reached planned endpoint. "Terminated" means stopped early—often due to safety, efficacy, or business reasons.

  • Growth: High proportion of early-phase trials (Phase 1/2), active development
  • Expansion: Significant Phase 3 activity, approaching or pursuing approvals
  • Mature: Substantial Phase 4 post-marketing studies
  • Stable: Mixed phase distribution, steady development
  • Declining: Low active trial ratio, reduced R&D investment