Orion Corporation announced today that its investigational compound ODM-105 (tasipimidine) failed to demonstrate efficacy in treating insomnia disorder, prompting the Finnish pharmaceutical company to discontinue development of the drug for this indication. The Phase 2 UNITAS study did not meet its primary endpoints, showing no significant improvement in key sleep parameters compared to placebo.
Study Design and Results
The UNITAS trial was a Phase 2b randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluated ODM-105 against placebo in 153 adult patients diagnosed with insomnia disorder. The study's primary endpoints focused on two critical sleep metrics: wake after sleep onset (WASO) and latency to persistent sleep (LPS), both measured using polysomnography, the gold standard for sleep assessment.
According to the study results, ODM-105 did not significantly improve insomnia-related symptoms such as time to fall asleep or sleep duration when compared with placebo. Despite the efficacy disappointment, the compound demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was generally well tolerated throughout the trial period.
Company Response and Strategic Implications
Professor Outi Vaarala, Executive Vice President of Innovative Medicines and Research & Development at Orion, expressed the company's disappointment with the outcome. "We are disappointed that our study did not meet its primary goal. Our biggest regret is that we're not able to provide a new and more efficient treatment option for people suffering from insomnia," Vaarala stated.
The executive noted that recruitment for the UNITAS study proceeded faster than anticipated, enabling an earlier readout of efficacy signals. However, she emphasized that this rapid enrollment also underscores the significant unmet medical need in insomnia treatment that persists in the current therapeutic landscape.
Future Development Plans
Following these results, Orion has made the strategic decision to discontinue ODM-105 development for insomnia indications. The company plans to reallocate its research and development resources toward advancing other assets currently in various stages of research and clinical development.
Vaarala confirmed that the company will "focus our efforts and resources on advancing our other assets both in research and clinical phases." Detailed results from the UNITAS study, including comprehensive safety data and their full assessment, are still being finalized and are expected to be released at a later date.
About Orion Corporation
Orion Corporation operates as a globally active Nordic pharmaceutical company with over a century of experience in healthcare. The company develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals along with active pharmaceutical ingredients. Orion maintains an extensive portfolio encompassing proprietary and generic medicines as well as consumer health products.
The company's core pharmaceutical research and development efforts concentrate on oncology and pain management. Orion's proprietary products address various therapeutic areas including cancer, neurological diseases, and respiratory conditions. In 2024, the company reported net sales of EUR 1,542 million and employed approximately 3,700 professionals worldwide.
