NCT06823752RecruitingPhase 2
A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist to Reduce Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration in Adults With Insomnia.
A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist to Reduce Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration in Adults With Insomnia Disorder: a Randomised Placebo-controlled Cross-over Study.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 18 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The goal of this clinical trial is to explore the potential neuroprotective benefits of a dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) in adults with insomnia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the DORA reduce blood-based phosphorylated TAU181, in adults with insomnia, when compared to placebo * Does the DORA reduce other blood-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration, including phosphorylated TAU217, amyloid beta 40:42 ratio, Neurofilament Light Chain (NFL) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), when compared to placebo. Participants will: * Take 10mg Lemborexant nightly for two weeks * Take a matching placebo nightly for two weeks * Visit the research institute for a screening visit and for an overnight visit at the conclusion of each study drug treatment (3 visits in total).
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 20 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 28 Jan 2025
- Start date
- 13 May 2025
- Primary completion date
- Dec 2027
- Lead sponsor
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
- Diseases
- Frontotemporal dementia
- NCT number
- NCT06823752
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 2
- Planned participants: 20
- From 13 May 2025 to the primary completion date, Dec 2027
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Regular shift work, jet lag or trans-meridian travel (over 2h time difference) in the past week before randomisation.
- Currently participating in or has participated in a research study of an investigational agent or device within 4 weeks of enrolment.
- Concomitant use of medicines that are inhibitors (e.g., diltiazem, fluvoxamine, fluconazole, itraconazole, verapamil), or moderate to strong inducers of CYP3A4 (e.g., carbamazepine, modafinil, phenytoin, rifampicin, St John's Wort)
- Ongoing use of anti-psychotic medication, bosentan, efavirenz, etravirine, modafinil, rifampin, carbamazepine or illicit stimulants.
- Regular use of hypnotics (including melatonin, valerian, kava, benzodiazepines and Z-drugs), and other medications that can cause additive sedation (e.g. sedating antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics) within 14 days or 4-5 half-lives (whichever is longer) of starting the clinical trial.
- Use of antidepressant medications for treatment of low mood for less than one year or dose changes (escalation or tapering) or change in antidepressant medications within the past year.
- Ongoing use of THC- or CBD-containing products within 14 days prior to the start of the trial.
- Dependence or any other drug or alcohol dependence within the past two years (alcohol to be limited to no more than 2 standard drinks per day during trial period).
Other illness
- Circadian disorders, narcolepsy, severe restless legs syndrome, and REM sleep behaviour disorder or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders.
- History of attempted suicide or current suicide ideation (indicated by a score \>0 on Q9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) at pre-screening.
- Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical trial due to safety concerns or compliance with clinical study procedures.
- Allergy to lactose.
Other
- People highly dependent on medical care as determined by a medical officer.
- Untreated moderate-severe sleep apnoea as diagnosed using in-home wrist oximetry (oxygen desaturation index\>15, ongoing effectively treated sleep apnoea with insomnia will be allowed).
- Objective cognitive decline measured by scoring ≤26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Pregnancy or lactation. Women will be advised to use contraception for the duration of the study and a urine pregnancy test will be performed when necessary.
- Regular use of psychostimulants (e.g., dexamfetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate) or non-amphetamine psychostimulants (e.g., armodafinil, modafinil, atomoxetine) within 14 days or 4-5 half-lives (whichever is longer) of starting the clinical trial.
- Regular use opioids within 14 days or 4-5 half-lives (whichever is longer) of starting the clinical trial.
Who the study is looking for
- Diagnosis of insomnia disorder as defined by the DSM-5 (difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep or waking up too early for at least 3 nights per week, for at least 3 months, with adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep and at least one daytime impairment related to the sleep difficulty) and a score ≥15 on the ISI.
- Able to provide informed electronic consent.
- Fluent English literacy.
- Adults aged between 40-65 years.
Age in the registry: 40 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woolcock Institute of Medical Research Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Macquarie Park | Australia | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.