Centessa to Present Late-Breaking Non-Human Primate Data on ORX142 at Sleep Europe 2024

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc has announced that preclinical data from a study of ORX142, a potent and selective orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist, will be presented at the 27th Congress of the European Sleep Research Society (Sleep Europe 2024) in Seville, Spain. ORX142 is being developed to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in specific neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders.

The forthcoming poster presentation will reveal preclinical data showing that low doses of ORX142 effectively promoted wakefulness in non-human primates. These findings are significant as they demonstrate the potential of ORX142 to alleviate EDS without significant orexin depletion.

Saurabh Saha, MD PhD, the CEO of Centessa, emphasized the importance of these findings, noting that ORX142 represents the company's second candidate in their pipeline of OX2R agonists, which have shown promise in promoting wakefulness at minimal doses in preclinical models. Saha expressed excitement about sharing these data at Sleep Europe 2024, underscoring ORX142’s potential to address EDS in various disorders.

The poster, titled "ORX142, an Oral, Highly Potent and Selective Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist, Promotes Wakefulness in Non-Human Primates," will be presented on September 26th, and will feature contributions from several authors, including Sarah Wurts Black and Tod Steinfeld.

Centessa's orexin agonist program targets the orexin neuropeptide, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Deficient orexin levels can result in EDS and poor regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which are symptoms seen in conditions like narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). Centessa is working on a range of OX2R agonists intended for oral administration to treat sleep-wake disorders such as NT1, narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). Their leading asset, ORX750, is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc is a clinical-stage company dedicated to discovering and developing transformative medicines. Their portfolio includes programs targeting hemophilia, orexin-related sleep-wake disorders, and immuno-oncology treatments utilizing their LockBody® technology platform. The company is committed to advancing each of its programs with the potential to revolutionize current treatment standards and improve patient outcomes.