As the saying goes, "sleep is the best medicine," sleep is directly tied to health. Even a single night of poor sleep lowers concentration the next day and raises the risk of accidents. As more people report sleep disorders due to irregular habits and stress, the sleep-related industry is growing quickly.
According to global market research firm Research and Markets on the 28th, the global sleep industry is projected to grow from 87 trillion won in 2020 to 163 trillion won by 2030. In Korea as well, the number of patients with sleep disorders surpassed 1.3 million last year. That is why the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors are rushing into the sleep market.
◇ "Sleep diagnosis with a smartphone"… digital health spreads
Chong Kun Dang recently said it will jointly sell in Korea the digital medical device "ApnoTrack," which diagnoses sleep apnea, with sleep-tech corporations Asleep. ApnoTrack measures breathing sounds with a smartphone during sleep, and artificial intelligence (AI) analyzes them to indicate the risk of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep as the airway narrows. It appears mainly in patients with obesity and causes severe daytime sleepiness and reduced concentration. If left untreated, it can lead to complications such as high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.
Previously, patients had to undergo tests at a hospital with devices such as electroencephalography, but ApnoTrack allows simple testing without additional equipment. A Chong Kun Dang official said, "We plan to leverage our nationwide hospital and clinic sales network to supply the product," and added, "We also expect synergy with diabetes and hypertension treatments."
Development of functional sleep ingredients is also active. Ildong Pharmaceutical Co. affiliate Ildong Bioscience is studying the sleep-related probiotic "IDCC 1201." The company said animal tests showed an increased proportion of deep sleep and reduced wake time. The related findings were recently published in a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The company plans to apply to the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety for recognition as an individually approved ingredient after conducting human application trials.
◇ Targeting the China market with new drugs… obesity treatments also used for sleep apnea
SK Biopharm recently obtained new drug approval for the sleep disorder treatment "Solriamfetol" from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China. Solriamfetol is a central nervous system drug that treats adults who experience excessive daytime sleepiness due to sleep apnea and narcolepsy. The company plans to accelerate efforts to tap the China market, where the number of patients with obstructive sleep apnea is estimated at more than 170 million.
Obesity treatments are also being used to treat sleep apnea. "Mounjaro" from Eli Lilly and Company, after its use for obesity treatment, also received approval from the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. "Wegovy" from Novo Nordisk of Denmark can also be used in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher.
Sleep aids and melatonin products are also being released one after another. Melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone secreted by the brain, and its secretion decreases with age. Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. recently introduced Korea's first liquid sleep aid, "Ezequil Night Liquid." Its antihistamine component acts on the central nervous system to help induce rapid sleep.
"Melamind" from JW Pharmaceutical Corp. combines plant-based melatonin extracted from pistachios with probiotics. A pharmaceutical industry official said, "The number of people suffering from sleep disorders due to irregular sleep, jet lag, and noise is increasing," and added, "Because ongoing management is needed, interest in the sleep-related industry will continue to grow."