New Drug Shows Promise for Rare Sleep Disorder, Study Finds

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has posted findings from two phase 3 trials — known as First Light and Radiant Light — testing oveporexton in people with narcolepsy type 1, a long-term neurological condition in which the brain cannot properly regulate sleep and wakefulness. Phase 3 trials are the large-scale human studies that regulators typically require before a drug can be approved for routine use.

Narcolepsy type 1 is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce orexin (also called hypocretin), a chemical that helps keep people awake and controls when they fall asleep. People with the condition can experience sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks, as well as cataplexy — a sudden, brief loss of muscle control often triggered by strong emotion. It can make everyday tasks, including driving or working, genuinely difficult to manage.

Oveporexton is designed to act directly on the orexin system, targeting the underlying mechanism of the condition rather than just managing symptoms. The NEJM also published an editorial on targeted treatment for narcolepsy type 1 alongside the trial results, as well as a piece on the basic science behind orexin research.

The drug is not yet approved for use in the UK. Any decision on whether it could become available through the NHS would depend on review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and, separately, an assessment of cost-effectiveness by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

People in Kent living with narcolepsy or unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness should speak to their GP in the first instance. NHS 111 can also advise on next steps for sleep-related concerns.

Key information

• Narcolepsy symptoms to discuss with a GP: excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy (brief muscle weakness triggered by emotion), disrupted night-time sleep
• GP referrals: your GP can refer you to a sleep specialist if narcolepsy is suspected
• NHS 111: call 111 for advice on health concerns that are not an emergency
• Narcolepsy UK helpline: 0345 450 0394