Drug

Suvorexant

In clinical development

ClassOrexin receptor antagonistEmerging researchLate-stage developmentRising momentum

Also known as Belsomra.

RxNorm1547099 ChEMBLCHEMBL1083659 ATCN05CJ01UNII081L192FO9

Research papers

Active clinical trials

Protein targets

Latest activity

beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

Suvorexant as an Adjunct to Buprenorphine Induction and Maintenance in Persons Who Use Fentanyl

Clinical trial2026-08-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Orexin's Role in The Neurobiology of Substance Use Disorder

Clinical trial2026-07-07Results expected Q4 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Suvorexant: Targeting Orexin to Augment Exposure Therapy in Veterans With PTSD and Insomnia

Clinical trial2026-07-07Results expected Q1 2029 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Sleep Trial to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Clinical trial2026-06-30Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Double-masked, Randomized, Phase II Study to Compare the Effectiveness of 20mg Oral Suvorexant (SUV) Versus Placebo (1:1) in Participants With Co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Clinical trial2026-06-23Results expected Q1 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Suvorexant for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Neural Mechanisms

Clinical trial2026-06-17Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Evaluation of Suvorexant for Reduction of Brain Reactivity in Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder

Clinical trial2026-06-11Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Influence of Orexin Antagonism on Motivation for Alcohol

Clinical trial2026-06-08Results expected Q1 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Orexin receptor antagonists in the treatment of insomnia associated with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

Research2024-09-14Translational psychiatry

Suvorexant for Reduction of Delirium in Older Adults After Hospitalization: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Research2024-08-01JAMA network open

Effects of Suvorexant, an Orexin Receptor Antagonist, on Respiration during Sleep In Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Research2016-01-01Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Effects of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, on breathing during sleep in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Research2015-01-05Respiratory medicine

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name

Suvorexant

Aliases & brands

Belsomra

RxNorm CUI

1547099

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL1083659

ATC codes

N05CJ01

UNII

081L192FO9

Primary mechanism

Orexin receptor antagonist

Pharmacology & targets

2 targets

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

Orexin receptor type 2

HCRTR2 · O43614

ANTAGONISTOrexin receptor antagonist

Orexin/Hypocretin receptor type 1

HCRTR1 · O43613

ANTAGONISTOrexin receptor antagonist

Clinical trials

66 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2026

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 66

Early Phase 14Phase 17Phase 1 / 21Phase 219Phase 2 / 31Phase 36Phase 426Phase N / A2

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

The Effects of Orexin Antagonism on Fear Extinction in PTSD

Not yet recruitingPH IVKey trialVA Office of Research and Developmentn=40,1202032

Suvorexant: Targeting Orexin to Augment Exposure Therapy in Veterans With PTSD and Insomnia

Not yet recruitingPH IVNorthern California Institute of Research and Educationn=1422029

Evaluation of Suvorexant for Reduction of Brain Reactivity in Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder

CompletedPH IVMassachusetts General Hospitaln=202026

Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Suvorexant 20 mg to Placebo for Treatment of Insomnia in Cancer Survivors

TerminatedPH IVMedical University of South Carolinan=52026

Suvorexant: A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist for Treating Sleep Disturbance inPosttraumatic Stress

RecruitingPH IVVA Office of Research and Developmentn=1902025

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

Evaluation of Suvorexant for Reduction of Brain Reactivity in Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder

CompletedPH IVMassachusetts General Hospitaln=202026

Treating Insomnia and Improving Metabolic Health in Midlife Women With Insomnia

CompletedPH IVBrigham and Women's Hospitaln=312025

Examining the Role of the Orexin System in Sleep and Stress in Persons With Opioid Use Disorder

CompletedPH IIJohns Hopkins Universityn=1382025

Efficacy of Suvorexant to Improve Postoperative Sleep and Reduce Delirium Severity in Older Surgical Patients: A Double-blinded, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial

CompletedPH IIDuke Universityn=1422025

Effects of the Orexin Receptor Antagonist Suvorexant on Sleep Architecture and Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: A Multi-Centric Randomized Controlled Trial

CompletedPH IVBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Centern=1002025

Treatment of Disturbed Sleep in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)

CompletedPH IVUniversity of California, San Franciscon=402025

Research activity

5 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time

20122024

Most influential

Orexin receptor antagonism for treatment of insomnia: a randomized clinical trial of suvorexant.

Neurology · 2012 · 239 cites

Effects of Suvorexant, an Orexin Receptor Antagonist, on Respiration during Sleep In Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2016 · 58 cites

Effects of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, on breathing during sleep in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Respiratory medicine · 2015 · 34 cites

Orexin receptor antagonists in the treatment of insomnia associated with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

Translational psychiatry · 2024 · 12 cites

Suvorexant for Reduction of Delirium in Older Adults After Hospitalization: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA network open · 2024 · 9 cites