Oveporexton
Oveporexton is an orexin receptor agonist and wakefulness-promoting agent which is under development for the treatment of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. It is taken by mouth.
The drug acts as a selective agonist of the orexin OX2 receptor. It has wakefulness-promoting effects in animals, including in rodents and monkeys. In addition, oveporexton has been found to be effective in the treatment of narcolepsy and cataplexy in Phases of [clinical research#Phase III|phase 3] clinical trials in humans. The drug is a first-in-class medication and targets the root symptomatic cause of narcolepsy by remediating the orexin deficiency that is present in the condition.
Oveporexton is being developed by Takeda. As of July 2025, it has completed phase 3 clinical trials for treatment of narcolepsy, whereas no recent development has been reported for treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia. Takeda plans to submit a New [Drug Application] of oveporexton for the treatment of narcolepsy to the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2025. Oveporexton is a follow-on and replacement compound for Takeda's earlier lead drug danavorexton, which is administered intravenously and stopped being developed due to unexpected liver toxicity findings.