This is a list of investigational insomnia drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use for the treatment of insomnia but are not yet approved. They may also be referred to as investigational hypnotics. Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses. The format of list items is "Name (Synonyms) – Mechanism of Action [Reference]". This list was last comprehensively updated in September 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.
Under development
Preregistration Tasimelteon (Hetlioz; BMS-214778; VEC-162) – melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptor agonist
Phase 3 Brexpiprazole (Rexulti; Lu-AF41156; OPC-34712; OPDC-34712) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator) Cannabidiol soft-gel (CBD soft-gel; CBD-TPM) — cannabinoid and various actions Diphenhydramine/lorazepam/zolpidem (SM-1; SM1) – combination of diphenhydramine (antihistamine and anticholinergic), lorazepam (benzodiazepine and GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator), and zolpidem (nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug and GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator) Zuranolone (BIIB-125; S-812217; SAGE-217; SGE-797; Zurzuvae) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and neurosteroid
Phase 2 Dexmedetomidine buccal (RE-03) — α2-adrenergic receptor agonist Lumateperone (Caplyta; ITI-007; ITI-722) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator) Pimavanserin (Nuplazid; ACP-103; BVF-048) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist Piromelatine (Neu-P11) – melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptor agonist, serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT1D receptor agonist, and serotonin 5-HT2B receptor antagonist Seltorexant (JNJ-42847922; JNJ-7922; MIN-202) – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist Sunobinop (IMB-115; IT-1315; RSC117957; S-117957; V-117957) – nociceptin receptor agonist Trazodone extended-release (AF-1161; DDS-04A; Oleptro; Triticum AC; Trittico) – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist, α1- and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and other actions
Phase 1/2 SVT-4A1011 – microbiome modulator and live microbial therapeutic
Phase 1 Ramelteon controlled-release – melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptor agonist
Preclinical APSTZD (APS-TZD) – undefined mechanism of action HS-10506 – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist TPT-0601 – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor YZG-331 – adenosine receptor agonist
Research Trazodone (TrazoFlex-24; TrazoFlex-CR; TrazoFlex) – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist, α1- and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and other actions
Phase unknown Midazolam sublingual film – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and benzodiazepine OP-010 (OP010) – undefined mechanism of action Zolpidem extended-release – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug
Not under development
Suspended Osemozotan (MKC-242; MN-305) – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist
No development reported Filorexant (MK-6096) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist HEC-83518 – orexin receptor antagonist IN-AQUL-001 – undefined mechanism of action JNJ-48816274 – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist Lirequinil (RO-413696) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/benzoquinolizinone Lorediplon (GF-015535-00) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/pyrazolopyrimidine MK-1064 – orexin OX2 receptor antagonist Research programme: psychophysiological insomnia therapeutics - Neurim Pharmaceuticals – melatonin and serotonin receptor agonists Zolpidem topical gel (TR-396) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/Z-drug
Discontinued ACT-462206 – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist Adipiplon (NG-273) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator ADX-10061 (NNC 01-0687; CEE-03-310; NNC-687) – dopamine D1 receptor antagonist Almorexant (ACT-078573) – orexin OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist ANPH-101 – undefined mechanism of action Atagabalin (PD-0200390) – gabapentinoid (α2δ voltage-gated calcium channel ligand) Eplivanserin (Ciltyri; Sliwens; SR–46349; SR–46349B; SR–46615A) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist Esmirtazapine (ORG-50081; SCH-900265; (S)-mirtazapine) – histamine H1 receptor antagonist, serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist Gaboxadol (LU-02030; LU-2-030; MK-0928; OV-101; THIP) – GABAA receptor agonist GT-2203 – histamine H3 receptor agonist Indiplon (NBI-34060) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and nonbenzodiazepine/pyrazolopyrimidine LY-2624803 (HY-10275) – histamine H1 receptor inverse agonist and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist Nabilone (Cesamet) – cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist NBI-75043 – antihistamine (histamine H1 receptor antagonist) Nelotanserin (APD-125; RVT-102) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist NGD-962 (NGD 96-2) – GABAA receptor modulator Paliperidone (Invega; JNS-007ER; RO-76477; 9-hydroxyrisperidone) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator) PD-0299685 (PF-299685) – gabapentinoid (α2δ voltage-gated calcium channel ligand) Pruvanserin (EMD-281014; LY-2422347; LSN-2411347) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist Remimazolam (HR-7056; Byfavo) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and benzodiazepine Seganserin (R-56413) – serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist Suvecaltamide (CX-8998; JZP-385; MK-8998) – T-type calcium channel inhibitor Tasipimidine (ODM-105) – α2A-adrenergic receptor agonist Tesamorelin (Egrifta; MDVTM; TH-9507; ThGRF 1-44) – growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor agonist Tiagabine (A-70569; CEP-6671; Gabitril; NO-050328; NO-328) – GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) blocker and GABA reuptake inhibitor Triazolam intranasal (Hypnostat; TGAR01H) – GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator and benzodiazepine Volinanserin (M-100907; MDL-100907) – serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist
Formal development never or not yet started Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) (e.g., butyric acid (butyrate), tributyrin)
Clinically used drugs
Approved drugs
GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Benzodiazepines
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