SleeepEase Team Taps into the Sleep Economy with Innovative Melatonin and Theanine Spray to Combat Insomnia

According to the latest data from the Chinese Sleep Research Society, there are currently over3Hundreds of millions of people suffer from sleep disorders;From2013Year to2018years, the average sleep duration per capita in China has8.8hours decreased to6.5hours,“Sleep Deprivation, Insomnia”has already become a malady of this era. Furthermore,According to Huang Jingbo, Lv CuitianResearch by others has found that anxiety and depression are common among individuals with sleep disorders, and these two emotional states tend to form a vicious cycle with sleep disturbances. Therefore, clinical treatment of sleep disorders requires targeted interventions addressing the patient’s anxiety or depressive symptoms.。

The increasingly severe sleep crisis has also driven the growth of the sleep market. Between 2016 and 2020, the overall market size of China’s sleep economy grew from RMB 261.63 billion to RMB 377.86 billion, covering sectors such as home textiles, sleep-aid apps, and sleep-related services. Products have become increasingly diversified, and the number of market participants has continued to rise.

To address "insomnia," Shuiyi Nong has launched a spray-form supplement that combines L-theanine and melatonin, helping individuals with insomnia fall asleep more easily, alleviate anxiety symptoms, and improve sleep quality.

Leveraging the efficacy and innovation of its products in terms of application outcomes and delivery methods, Shuiyi Nong participated in the “2021 ‘Maker Guangdong’ Biopharmaceutical SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition,” recently hosted by Guangdong Medical Valley, competing alongside multiple innovative projects.

What gave rise to Shuiyi Nong was its founder Zeng Zhuotao’s own experience with insomnia.

Due to excessive stress while preparing for the national college entrance examination (Gaokao), Zeng Zhuotao developed insomnia. However, after graduating and entering university, his insomnia symptoms did not alleviate; instead, they continued to plague him for many years. These long-term sleep issues gradually led Zeng Zhuotao into the vast market of sleep health.

According to the "2020 Xilinmen China Sleep Index Report," the prevalence of insomnia increased from 24.9% in 2018 to 36.1%, with a trend toward affecting younger populations. Moreover, young people are more inclined to purchase popular, influencer-endorsed sleep-aid products to improve their sleep quality. Therefore, developing L-theanine as a novel health supplement for sleep support would yield significant economic benefits and social value.

In the market for sleep-aid supplements and pharmaceuticals, melatonin has gradually become one of the most widely recognized products due to its efficacy in shortening pre-sleep wakefulness and sleep onset latency, as well as improving sleep quality. According to Tmall Health data, melatonin sales increased by 57% year-on-year from January to September 2020, indicating a growing market demand for such products.

More than two decades ago, melatonin entered the public eye as a dietary supplement. In 2020, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the “Feedback on the Public Consultation Regarding the Draft Directory of Five Health Food Ingredients, Including Coenzyme Q10,” with melatonin prominently listed. This inclusion was driven by its large consumer base, extensive product variety, and frequent corporate applications, as well as the substantial evidence available from functional studies, technical evaluations, and current domestic and international application practices, all of which adequately support its safety profile and market demand.

However, since 2016, the raw melatonin market has been affected by the Chinese government’s intensified environmental protection efforts. Some melatonin manufacturers failing to meet environmental standards have gradually exited the market, while the operating rates of remaining enterprises have been significantly constrained, leading to an overall reduction in industry supply capacity. Furthermore, current melatonin-based health supplements for sleep improvement are predominantly formulated as melatonin monocomponents or melatonin combined with vitamins, and their prices remain relatively high.

Research indicates that sleep aids relying solely on melatonin demonstrate limited efficacy in treating secondary insomnia. Consequently, developing sleep products with melatonin as the sole active ingredient is not an optimal market entry strategy. In contrast, combining melatonin with L-theanine addresses the limited efficacy of melatonin alone for secondary insomnia, representing a promising direction for product development.

At present, in addition to melatonin, L-theanine, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and GABA are also active ingredients commonly used in sleep-aid supplements and foods. Among these, L-theanine is primarily extracted from tea leaves. Although it is not a sedative per se, it can act on glutamate and GABA receptors in the human body to modulate the central nervous system’s excitability, thereby exerting calming and stress-relieving effects. Consequently, this ingredient is preferred in functional sleep-aid food products in Japan.

Leveraging the sleep-promoting and stress-reducing effects of melatonin and L-theanine, Shuiyi Nong was formulated in accordance with the SFDA’s specifications for health food research and development. By organically integrating melatonin with L-theanine, the product not only improves sleep but also alleviates users’ anxiety symptoms, while offering a lower cost compared to most melatonin-based products.

To achieve optimal product efficacy, Shuiyi Nong employs a spray-based delivery system for sublingual administration. This method enhances bioavailability, reduces hepatic burden, and effectively shortens sleep onset latency, while also offering convenience in use and portability. Furthermore, the low cost of melatonin and L-theanine facilitates subsequent market promotion.

A global overview of the functional food market for health reveals that oral liquids, capsules, and tablets remain the predominant forms of sleep-aid supplements. In recent years, sleep-promoting foods based on traditional food and beverage formats have also gained significant visibility. However, spray-type sleep-aid health products are currently scarce in the market, creating growth opportunities for Shuiyi Nong.

Regarding the team, the core members of Shuiyinong all possess professional backgrounds in chemical pharmaceuticals and drug manufacturing. In addition to a Ph.D. holder with nearly a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, the technical advisory team includes experts who serve as reviewers for health foods and dietary supplements at the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). These experts have provided substantial technical support for Shuiyinong’s product research and development, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of R&D projects.

"Next, Shuiyi Nong will develop a range of sleep-aid products in various forms, including gummies and beverages, to better accommodate diverse usage scenarios and cater to the habits and preferences of different consumers."

In recent years, the sleep health industry has witnessed a surge in growth both internationally and domestically. Amid this market trend, Shuiyinong will continue to drive the commercialization of its existing products, establish collaborative partnerships with industry peers, and develop an integrated online-and-offline marketing network to facilitate more effective product promotion.

The 2021 “Maker Guangdong” Biopharmaceutical SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was guided by the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province, the Department of Finance of Guangdong Province, and the People’s Government of Dongguan City, and hosted by Guangdong Medical Valley. Since undertaking the competition, it has focused on the biopharmaceutical sector, identifying high-quality projects related to COVID-19 prevention and control as well as health protection. To date, nearly 200 projects have been identified, with many of the recommended projects winning major awards in the provincial finals. Guangdong Medical Valley was honored as the “Best Organizing Unit of 2020.”

Guangdong Medical Valley, established in 2014, is a new healthcare industry cluster service provider under the Zhongchuang Group. It focuses on investment and incubation platforms for the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. With a presence in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and other locations, it has developed and is currently constructing industrial parks with a total area of approximately 530,000 square meters. Recognized as a National-Level Science and Technology Business Incubator, a Key Construction Project of Guangdong Province, and a Demonstration Park of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Medical Valley adheres to the philosophy that “industry clusters are the most critical driver for innovative development in the healthcare sector.” It persists in an integrated development model combining healthcare incubation, equity investment in medical projects, and comprehensive supporting services for the healthcare industry. Deeply rooted in the Greater Bay Area, it is committed to building a world-class international healthcare innovation center.