Servatus commissions clinical trial of live biotherapeutics on insomnia patients

Servatus, an Australia-based startup, has begun recruitment for its Phase I/II clinical trial for insomnia at the Sleep Disorders Centre at The Prince Charles Hospital in Queensland. This is the first study to research the effects of live biotherapeutics on patients with clinically diagnosed insomnia in Australia. The study will examine the safety and efficacy of the treatment across 50 patients over a 35 day treatment period, with the aim to assess the effect the live biotherapeutic has on gut microbiome composition and function and its association with healthy sleep patterns. There is a definable gap in the development of safe and effective long-term solutions for insomnia. Improving sleep habits and behaviour therapy are typically the first approach in managing insomnia but most people do not seek professional support and may turn to overthe-counter medications to selfmedicate. However, current medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter are for short-term use only, may have undesirable side effects and do not treat the underlying cause. The Servatus trial will run during 2022, with final results expected in 2023.