Vanda's tasimelteon meets primary endpoint in Ph III study

Shares of USA-based Vanda Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VNDA) moved 2.8% higher to $3.22 in early trading yesterday, as the company announced positive results from the SET (Safety and Efficacy of Tasimelteon) Phase III study, evaluating tasimelteon, a circadian regulator for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Disorder (Non-24). Tasimelteon succeeded in the primary endpoint of entrainment of the melatonin (aMT6s) rhythm as compared to placebo.

Additionally, tasimelteon demonstrated significant improvements across a number of sleep and wake parameters including measures of total sleep time, nap duration, and timing of sleep. Tasimelteon also showed significant improvements over placebo in the Non-24 Clinical Response Scale (N24CRS) as well as in the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C), an overall global functioning scale. These results provide robust evidence of a direct and clinically meaningful benefit to patients with Non-24.

Non-24 is a serious, rare circadian rhythm disorder that affects a majority of totally blind individuals who lack light perception and cannot entrain (reset) their master body clock to the 24-hour day. Currently there is no approved treatment for Non-24.