Eli Lilly acquires Centessa in multi-billion dollar sleep disorder drug push

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in treatments for narcolepsy, a rare disorder affecting approximately one in 2,000 people globally. This interest is driven by a new class of drugs targeting orexins, the chemical messengers responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle.

Eli Lilly recently completed a $7.8 billion acquisition of Centessa, a company developing experimental treatments for various rare sleep disorders. This move follows the company’s significant market growth driven by GLP-1 weight loss medications.

Other major developments in the sector include the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Orzeyful, an oral orexin receptor treatment developed by the Japanese firm Takeda, which has also received approval in China and Japan. Additionally, the Irish company Alkermes is developing a similar drug, with clinical trials conducted by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research showing “statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements” in patient outcomes.