The pharmaceutical group Sensheng recently announced that its new type of anti-insomnia drug has been officially launched. However, behind this breakthrough lies a social phenomenon that cannot be ignored: on one hand, a sleep industry worth over 500 billion yuan is continuously expanding, and on the other hand, young people are deeply troubled by insomnia, becoming a public concern in society.
On September 4th, the global new generation anti-insomnia drug Dalireisheng (trade name: Keweike) introduced by Sensheng Pharmaceutical was officially launched on Ali Health.
Sensheng Pharmaceutical Group announced on August 25 that the China Phase III clinical trial data of Dalireisheng showed significant performance in indicators such as sleep maintenance, accelerated sleep onset, and extended sleep time for the Chinese insomnia population, and has a lower rate of morning sleepiness. It is seen as bringing new treatment hope for hundreds of millions of insomnia sufferers in China.
Dalireisheng is a new type of anti-insomnia drug originated from Switzerland. In 2022, Sensheng Pharmaceutical obtained the exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of Dalireisheng in Greater China through an agreement with Swiss Idorsia. On June 17, 2025, the drug was approved for market launch by the National Medical Products Administration.
According to the latest “2025 China Sleep Health Survey Report” released by the Chinese Sleep Research Association (referred to as the “Sleep Report”), the insomnia rate among the Chinese population aged 18 and above is 48.5%, with nearly half of the adult population suffering from sleep disturbances, with the proportion being 51.1% for females and 45.9% for males.
This means that approximately hundreds of millions of adults in China are facing varying degrees of sleep disorders.
In contrast to the traditional notion that insomnia is primarily a problem for the elderly, insomnia issues in China are now significantly affecting the younger population.
For example, Ms. Zhu in Chongqing, who is under 30 years old, received a sleep monitoring report showing, “Total sleep duration of 7 hours, with 90% light sleep and only 6 minutes of deep sleep.” She disclosed that her hands were trembling slightly when she received the report.
There are similar stories in major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu. According to clinical data from the First People’s Hospital of Chengdu, there has been an approximate 20% increase in patients under 30 seeking treatment for sleep disorders.
The “Sleep Report” indicates that around 65.91% of respondents have experienced sleep disturbances. Among them, the disturbance rate for respondents aged 35-44 reaches as high as 71.95%, and among those born after 1990 and 2000, nearly seven out of ten have experienced insomnia. The phenomenon of “voluntarily staying up late” is prevalent, with over 30% of young people stating they “can’t bear to go to sleep” and see late nights as their only personal time.
Institutional data shows that seven out of ten people born after 1990 and 2000 rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep. Behind the dilemma of insomnia lies a rapidly expanding industry – the sleep economy.
The “Sleep Report” shows that the Chinese sleep health industry grew from 261.63 billion yuan in 2016 to nearly 500 billion yuan in 2023. iMedia Consulting predicts that the Chinese sleep health market size will reach 658.68 billion yuan by 2027, while the “China Sleep Research Report 2025” anticipates it to surpass the trillion yuan mark by 2030.
E-commerce platform data reveals that melatonin products are one of the main drivers of the sleep economy. In the first quarter of 2025, Vipshop’s melatonin product sales increased by 30% year-on-year; Tmall Health stated that over 10,000 people search for “melatonin” daily, with the 18-29 age group accounting for over 30%.
The “Goodnight Milk” introduced by HEMA sold over 50,000 units in a month, with each bottle containing 12,500 milligrams of melatonin, becoming a popular product.
Apart from traditional health products, AI smart sleep devices are emerging as a new trend. Intelligent sleep bracelets, AI sleep assist robots, smart blackout curtains, and adjustable massage “smart mattresses” continue to emerge.
However, behind the industry’s prosperity, issues are beginning to surface. Some sleep aid products lack scientific verification, and misleading advertising is common. Products such as melatonin gummies and sprays have irregular dosages, posing risks of overuse. Online “sleep inducers” and “sleep consultants” lack professional training, with fees ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan, yet struggling to provide substantial help.
Insomnia is not just a personal health problem but a reflection of societal pressures. “Shenke New Consumption” believes that the inability of young people to sleep is not just a mere inconvenience but a natural result of multiple pressures.
The primary source of this is societal pressure. Within the workplace, repetitive reporting, documentation, and dealing with leadership criticism create significant anxiety that severely impacts sleep.
Lulu, who works in institutional sales at a fund company, often stays at work until 1 am to prepare for the next day’s presentation, constantly reviewing work details in her mind. She shared, “I fear making mistakes in data, missing key points, and the more I think, the more anxious I become, and the harder it is for me to fall asleep.”
Added to this are concerns such as mortgages, car loans, relationship anxieties, making it even more challenging to sleep.
The second reason is the pace of life; “voluntarily staying up late” has become a habit for many young people.
The prevalence of smartphones and short videos exacerbates the habit of staying up late. Browsing a short video or watching an episode of a TV series before bed often leads to staying awake into the early hours of the morning.
According to a report by “Shenke New Consumption,” Sanmu, a 28-year-old working at an internet company in Chengdu, finishes work at 9 pm and is ready for bed after preparing for bed, already past 10 pm. She said, “Lying in bed watching shows, browsing videos, time flies, and even though it’s late, I can’t bear to sleep.” This habit of staying up late has disrupted Sanmu’s circadian rhythm, initially choosing not to sleep, which has now transformed into the inability to sleep even when desired.
Furthermore, the third reason is due to young people’s sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise leading to suboptimal health, significantly affecting sleep quality.
Simultaneously, the sleep economy, under the guise of “solving insomnia,” exacerbates consumption anxiety among young people. A consumer lamented on social media, “I bought a smart sleep device, and instead of improving my sleep, it made it worse, and there was no after-sales service.”
From ancient times when “spring sleep brings no awakenings” symbolized leisure, to the fast-paced modern society where getting a good night’s sleep has become a luxurious struggle. This not only reflects changes in young people’s personal habits but also the imbalance between work and life in the process of societal development.
In the view of “Shenke New Consumption,” when sleep problems become a common issue among the younger generation, it is no longer merely a personal health concern but a public issue worthy of the entire society’s attention.
Sleeping has become a business, yet it should return to the ancient practice of resting at sunset, an unchanging principle through the ages.