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Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neuropeptide that regulates arousal, wakefulness, and appetite. The most common form of narcolepsy, type 1, in which the individual experiences brief losses of muscle tone, is caused by a lack of orexin in the brain due to destruction of the cells that produce it. It exists in the forms of orexin-A and orexin-B.
Cataplexy is a sudden and transient episode of muscle weakness accompanied by full conscious awareness, typically triggered by emotions such as laughing, crying, or terror. Cataplexy affects approximately 20% of people who have narcolepsy, and is caused by an autoimmune destruction of hypothalamic neurons that produce the neuropeptide hypocretin, which regulates arousal and has a role in stabilization of the transition between wake and sleep states. Cataplexy without narcolepsy is rare and the cause is unknown.
Ramelteon, sold under the brand name Rozerem among others, is a melatonin agonist medication which is used in the treatment of insomnia. It is indicated specifically for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset. It reduces the time taken to fall asleep, but the degree of clinical benefit is small. The medication is approved for long-term use. Ramelteon is taken by mouth.
The orexin receptor (also referred to as the hypocretin receptor) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that binds the neuropeptide orexin. There are two variants, OX1 and OX2, each encoded by a different gene (HCRTR1, HCRTR2).
Orexin receptor type 1 (Ox1R or OX1), also known as hypocretin receptor type 1 (HcrtR1), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HCRTR1 gene.
Orexin receptor type 2 (Ox2R or OX2), also known as hypocretin receptor type 2 (HcrtR2), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HCRTR2 gene.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that involves a decreased ability to regulate sleep–wake cycles. Symptoms often include periods of excessive daytime sleepiness and brief involuntary sleep episodes. About 70% of those affected also experience episodes of sudden loss of muscle strength, known as cataplexy. Narcolepsy paired with cataplexy is evidenced to be an autoimmune disorder. These experiences of cataplexy can be brought on by strong emotions. Less commonly, there may be vivid hallucinations or an inability to move while falling asleep or waking up. People with narcolepsy tend to sleep about the same number of hours per day as people without, but the quality of sleep tends to be lessened.
Almorexant, also known by its development code ACT-078573, is an orexin antagonist, acting as a competitive antagonist of the OX1 and OX2 orexin receptors, which was being developed by the pharmaceutical companies Actelion and GSK for the treatment of insomnia. Development of the drug was abandoned in January 2011 due to concerns over the hepatic safety of almorexant after transient increases in liver enzymes were observed in trials.
Pitolisant, sold under the brand name Wakix among others, is a medication for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy. It is a histamine 3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist. It represents the first commercially available medication in its class. Pitolisant enhances the activity of histaminergic neurons in the brain that function to improve a person's wakefulness.
Eugeroics, also known as wakefulness-promoting agents and wakefulness-promoting drugs, are a class of drugs that promote wakefulness and alertness. They are medically indicated for the treatment of certain sleep disorders including excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Eugeroics are also often prescribed off-label for the treatment of EDS in idiopathic hypersomnia. In contrast to classical psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine, which are also used in the treatment of these disorders, eugeroics typically do not produce euphoria, and, consequently, have a lower addictive potential.
Suvorexant, sold under the brand name Belsomra, is an orexin antagonist medication which is used in the treatment of insomnia. It is indicated specifically for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or maintenance in adults. Suvorexant helps with falling asleep faster, sleeping longer, being awake less in the middle of the night, and having better quality of sleep. Its effectiveness is modest, and is similar to that of other orexin antagonists, but is lower than that of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Suvorexant is taken by mouth.
An orexin receptor antagonist, or orexin antagonist, is a drug that inhibits the effect of orexin by acting as a receptor antagonist of one or both of the orexin receptors, OX1 and OX2. Medical applications include treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Seltorexant, also known by its developmental code names MIN-202 and JNJ-42847922, is an orexin antagonist medication which is under development for the treatment of depression and insomnia. It is a selective antagonist of the orexin OX2 receptor (2-SORA). The medication is taken by mouth. As of February 2022, seltorexant is in phase 3 clinical trials for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and phase 2 trials for treatment of insomnia. It was also under investigation for the treatment of sleep apnea, but no recent development has been reported for this indication. Seltorexant is under development by Minerva Neurosciences and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Lemborexant, sold under the brand name Dayvigo, is an orexin antagonist medication which is used in the treatment of insomnia. It is indicated specifically for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or maintenance in adults. The medication is taken by mouth.
Daridorexant, sold under the brand name Quviviq, is an orexin antagonist medication which is used for the treatment of insomnia. Daridorexant is taken by mouth.
Danavorexton is a selective orexin 2 receptor agonist. It is a small-molecule compound and is administered intravenously. The compound was found to dose-dependently produce wakefulness to a similar degree as modafinil in a phase 1 clinical trial. As of March 2021, danavorexton is under development for the treatment of narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and sleep apnea. It is related to another orexin receptor agonist known as TAK-994, the development of which was discontinued for safety reasons in October 2021.
Suntinorexton (INN) is an experimental orexin receptor agonist. It acts as a selective agonist of the orexin OX2 receptor and was described in 2019 in a patent by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company.
ACT-539313 is an orexin antagonist medication which is under development for the treatment of binge eating disorder and was previously under development for the treatment of anxiety disorders. It is an orally active small-molecule compound with an elimination half-life of 3.3 to 6.5 hours and acts as a selective orexin OX1 receptor antagonist (1-SORA). As of May 2022, the drug is in phase 2 clinical trials for binge eating disorder. Following negative efficacy results of a phase 2 trial of ACT-539313 for binge eating disorder, Idorsia (the developer of ACT-539313) signaled in May 2022 that it would not pursue further development of the drug for this indication.
JNJ-61393215 is an orexin antagonist medication which is under development for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. It is an orally active compound and acts as a selective antagonist of the orexin OX1 receptor (1-SORA). Preliminary clinical findings suggest that JNJ-61393215 may have anti-panic effects in humans. As of November 2021, JNJ-61393215 is in phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of major depressive disorder and is in the preclinical stage of development for treatment of panic disorder, while no further development has been reported for treatment of other anxiety disorders. The drug was originated and developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
References
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- 1 2 Ishikawa T, Suzuki M, Kimura H (April 2020). "0141 A Novel, Orally Available Orexin 2 Receptor-Selective Agonist, TAK-994, Shows Wake-Promoting Effects Following Chronic Dosing in an Orexin-Deficient Narcolepsy Mouse Model". Sleep. 43 (Supplement 1): A56. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.139. eISSN 1550-9109. ISSN 0161-8105.
- 1 2 Thorpy MJ (January 2020). "Recently Approved and Upcoming Treatments for Narcolepsy". CNS Drugs. 34 (1): 9–27. doi:10.1007/s40263-019-00689-1. PMC 6982634 . PMID 31953791.
- 1 2 Zhang D, Perrey DA, Decker AM, Langston TL, Mavanji V, Harris DL, et al. (June 2021). "Discovery of Arylsulfonamides as Dual Orexin Receptor Agonists". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 64 (12): 8806–8825. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00841. PMC 8994207 . PMID 34101446.
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- ↑ Clinical trial number NCT04096560 for "A Study of TAK-994 in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Narcolepsy" at ClinicalTrials.gov
- ↑ "Takeda Provides Update on TAK-994 Clinical Program". Business Wire. 5 October 2021.
- ↑ "Takeda pauses TAK-994 clinical studies due to safety glitch". The Pharma Letter. 6 October 2021.
- ↑ Jackson M (6 October 2021). "Takeda Halts Phase II Studies For Key R&D Asset TAK-994 In Narcolepsy". Scrip. Informa Pharma Intelligence.
- ↑ Tong A (6 October 2021). "Takeda flashes red light on 'breakthrough' narcolepsy drug after PhII trials turned up mysterious safety signal". Endpoints News.
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