Alkermes plc announced that its experimental drug alixorexton met both primary endpoints in a mid-stage trial in patients with narcolepsy type 2, showing statistically meaningful improvements versus placebo.
This milestone highlights a potential breakthrough in treating narcolepsy and strengthens Alkermes’ position in the competitive sleep-medicine field.
🧩 Context
Alkermes plc is an Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company focused on neuroscience and central nervous system disorders.
Until now, the company’s efforts centred on antipsychotic and addiction-treatment medicines, but this latest move represents a meaningful expansion into the sleep-disorder space.
This evolution aligns with broader trends in the sleep and neurological-disorder industries, where players increasingly aim for first-in-class therapies and novel mechanisms of action.
⚗️ Clinical
From a clinical standpoint, alixorexton is being developed for narcolepsy type 2 (and also being studied for narcolepsy type 1 and idiopathic hypersomnia). The candidate is a once-daily oral agonist of the orexin‐2 receptor (OXR2) this mechanism is designed to promote wakefulness by activating the brain’s orexin system.
In the study (~93 patients, three dose levels, 8 weeks) alixorexton met both primary endpoints: improved results on standard wakefulness tests and reduced excessive daytime sleepiness vs placebo.
The drug was generally well tolerated, with most side-effects being mild to moderate (e.g., insomnia, dizziness, headache). In terms of competition, other companies such as Takeda Pharmaceutical (with its orexin agonist oveporexton) are also pursuing similar approaches. Alkermes aims to differentiate through its once-daily oral dosing and the specific narcolepsy type 2 indication.
✨ In essence, the update shows how Alkermes is leveraging its neuroscience development capability to reach a broader market in sleep disorders and diversify beyond its core operations.