Alkermes has announced early-stage trial data suggesting its orexin agonist could treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Both Fierce Biotech and STAT describe the results as a first for the drug class, which has previously been tied to sleep disorders.
The news comes after Takeda won approval for Orzeyful, the first orexin agonist, as a narcolepsy treatment. Fierce Biotech frames Alkermes' data as a potential "company changer" that could move the class into broader patient populations, while STAT notes the therapy showed potential in an early-stage study.
The two reports agree on the core significance: orexin agonists may offer a new mechanism for ADHD. However, neither source provides details on effect size or safety, and both imply that larger, later-stage trials will be necessary to validate the early promise.