Centessa Pharmaceuticals, LLC

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plans to rapidly advance its experimental drug after a small study showed significant increase in time to sleep in healthy volunteers. The company intends to start mid-stage studies by year-end, evaluating the drug against narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's CEO, Saurabh Saha, noted the data exceeded expectations, leading to accelerated development. The drug targets orexin proteins, with potential for a 1 mg, once-daily treatment, comparing favorably to Takeda's candidate. The study used Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests, showing the drug restored normative wakefulness with favorable safety and tolerability.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals' Phase 1 trial of ORX750, an orexin receptor 2 agonist, showed significant improvement in wakefulness with no severe adverse events, positioning the drug for Phase 2 trials in narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Expert in IP strategy for FDA-approved drugs and clinical trials, with significant M&A experience in pharma. Represented numerous companies and investors in financings, IPOs, and IP diligence. Co-creator of healthcare investment initiatives and board member at LaunchBio.