Merck's Insomnia Drug Approved for Alzheimer's Patients

Merck (NYSE:MRK) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its insomnia drug Belsomra (suvorexant) for treating sleep disruption in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Belsomra was approved by the FDA for the general population in 2014, but Monday's decision allows Merck to include information on the drug's effectiveness in Alzheimer's patients in its prescribing information.