Eli Lilly and Company has completed its acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc, strengthening its neuroscience pipeline with promising therapies aimed at treating narcolepsy and other sleep-wake disorders.
The acquisition brings Centessa’s portfolio of orexin receptor 2 agonists under Lilly’s umbrella, expanding the pharmaceutical giant’s efforts to develop innovative treatments for neurological conditions with significant unmet medical needs. Centessa, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has been focused on advancing a new class of medicines designed to restore the brain’s natural wakefulness mechanisms.
Although the financial terms of the completed transaction were not disclosed in the announcement, the deal reflects Lilly’s continued investment in neuroscience, one of the company’s key strategic growth areas alongside obesity, diabetes, oncology, and immunology.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate sleep and wake cycles. People living with the condition often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden episodes of muscle weakness known as cataplexy, disrupted nighttime sleep, and an overall reduced quality of life. While current treatment options primarily help manage symptoms, researchers believe therapies targeting the orexin system may address the underlying biological cause of the disease.
Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a naturally occurring neuropeptide that plays a critical role in maintaining wakefulness, alertness, and stable sleep patterns. Many patients with narcolepsy have a deficiency of orexin-producing neurons, making orexin receptor agonists an increasingly attractive therapeutic approach. Several drug developers have identified this pathway as one of the most promising areas in sleep medicine.
With the acquisition complete, Lilly gains access to Centessa’s clinical-stage portfolio of orexin receptor 2 agonists, which are being developed not only for narcolepsy but also for other disorders associated with disrupted sleep and wakefulness. The company believes these therapies could potentially benefit a broader range of neurological conditions where sleep regulation is impaired.
Carole Ho, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Neuroscience, said the orexin system is fundamental to healthy brain function because it regulates wakefulness, alertness, and the stability of sleep. When this system is disrupted, the consequences can be severe, particularly for people living with narcolepsy.
She noted that the impact of orexin extends beyond narcolepsy to other diseases influenced by abnormal sleep patterns, creating opportunities to address additional unmet medical needs. Ho added that Centessa has built a strong clinical portfolio capable of exploring these possibilities and said Lilly intends to accelerate the development of these therapies.
The acquisition aligns with Lilly’s broader strategy of expanding its pipeline through targeted acquisitions and licensing agreements that complement its internal research programs. In recent years, the company has made several strategic investments aimed at strengthening its position in high-growth therapeutic areas while accelerating the development of innovative medicines.
For Centessa, becoming part of Lilly provides access to significantly greater financial resources, global development expertise, and commercial capabilities that could help advance its experimental therapies through clinical development and, if successful, toward regulatory approval.
Industry analysts view the transaction as another indication of growing interest in orexin-targeted therapies, an emerging area of neuroscience that has attracted increasing investment from major pharmaceutical companies. As research continues to validate the role of the orexin pathway in regulating sleep and wakefulness, competition to develop first-in-class and best-in-class therapies for narcolepsy and related disorders is expected to intensify.
With the acquisition now finalized, Lilly is expected to integrate Centessa’s research programs into its neuroscience division and continue advancing the clinical development of orexin receptor agonists. The company hopes these next-generation therapies will offer improved treatment options for patients living with narcolepsy and potentially expand into additional sleep-wake disorders in the future.