Are we closer to a treatment for narcolepsy?

Among other things, narcolepsy manifests itself as difficulty staying awake and excessive daytime sleepiness that can occur at any time of the day. The disease generally appears between the ages of 15 and 20. Type 1 narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease and the symptoms are caused by the destruction of neurons that synthesize orexin (also called hypocretin), a neurotransmitter that helps stimulate the state of wakefulness. In a phase two trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a research team led by neurologist Dr. Yves Dauvilliers tested a new treatment against type 1 narcolepsy, developed by the Takeda laboratory. Read: Looking after survivors The treatment in question, an orexin receptor 2 agonist called TAK-994, was first studied orally. It had only been tested by intravenous injection in the past. Of a total of 73 patients, 17 received TAK-994 at a dose of 30 mg twice daily, 20 received 90 mg twice daily, 19 received 180 mg twice daily, and 17 received placebo. “We haven't had just an improvement in symptoms. For the first time, the patients simply felt cured,” Dr. Dauvilliers said in a press release. However, the clinical trial had to be stopped prematurely after eight weeks due to hepatic side effects affecting some patients. Read:Vagus nerves help us rest, digest and restore. Can you reset them to feel better? “We are already working on a new agonist with greater affinity for orexin receptor 2, and which would therefore have fewer side effects,” explained Dr. Dauvilliers. Until this treatment arrives, the neurologist says it's important to diagnose the disease early. “Today on average it takes eight years to diagnose narcolepsy, and only one-third of patients have a diagnosis [and] it’s really too little.” This article was translated from French and originally ran in our sister publication Profession Santé.

Are we closer to a treatment for narcolepsy?

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