Business Wire

New Pivotal Study Data Show Takeda’s Oveporexton Improved Daily Function, Cognition and Nighttime Sleep for People with Narcolepsy Type 1

15.6.2026 18:00:00 CEST | Business Wire | Press Release

Share

Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK)today presented additional results from two pivotal studies at SLEEP 2026, showing oveporexton (TAK-861), an oral orexin receptor 2 (OX2R)-selective agonist, improved daily functioning as well as cognitive and sleep-related symptoms associated with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1).1,2,3 Oveporexton is designed to address the underlying orexin deficiency that causes NT1 by restoring orexin signaling. These data, along with previously disclosed Phase 3 results, demonstrated improvement across the broad disease spectrum, supporting the potential of oveporexton to redefine the standard of care for NT1.4

"Narcolepsy type 1 is a 24-hour disease driven by orexin deficiency, and while excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy are the most recognized symptoms, many people experience additional bothersome symptoms such as cognitive difficulties and disrupted nighttime sleep," said Emmanuel Mignot, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator for the FirstLight (TAK-861-3001) Phase 3 study. "Oveporexton has demonstrated significant improvement across a broad range of NT1 symptoms, daily functioning and quality of life with the potential to shift disease management beyond incremental symptom relief.”

The presentations highlighted results from secondary and exploratory endpoints from two global, multicenter, placebo-controlled studies—FirstLight (TAK-861-3001; twice-daily 2mg, 1mg and placebo) and RadiantLight (TAK-861-3002; twice-daily 2mg and placebo)—including:

  • Functioning: At all doses, oveporexton significantly improved daily functioning at week 12 compared to placebo (p<0.001) across the six domains of the Functional Impacts of Narcolepsy Instrument (FINI). Most patients reached or exceeded the published normative domain thresholds, underscoring oveporexton’s ability to allow individuals to manage their everyday lives.5 FINI reflects the domains that are of highest impact for NT1 including tiredness, cognitive functioning, cataplexy, social activities, everyday activities and everyday responsibilities.
  • Cognition: Oveporexton improved cognitive symptoms associated with NT1 compared to placebo, as measured using objective neuropsychological tests of attention, executive function and memory along with patient-reported measures. On the FINI Cognitive Function domain, approximately 70% of patients across all doses reported no significant cognitive difficulties compared to approximately 15% of patients in the placebo arm.
  • Nighttime Sleep: Exploratory endpoints demonstrated that oveporexton improved quality of sleep across both studies. Across all doses, most patients reported no hallucinations or sleep paralysis and most patients on the 2/2mg dose reported meaningful reductions in disturbed nighttime sleep from baseline. Additionally, the timing and pattern of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep shifted toward those seen in healthy controls.

"Narcolepsy type 1 is not defined by a single symptom, which is why we designed a comprehensive Phase 3 program to evaluate the effect of oveporexton on the broad disease impact,” said Sarah Sheikh, M.Sc., B.M., B.Ch., MRCP, Head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Unit and Global Development at Takeda. “We are grateful to the patients, caregivers and healthcare providers who have been a part of this journey. With oveporexton under review by multiple regulatory agencies, we are on the cusp of bringing the first and only orexin agonist to the narcolepsy type 1 community, with the potential to redefine the standard of care if approved.”

Takeda will present additional data at the conference, including pooled analyses from previously presented Phase 3 results, data evaluating the impact of oveporexton in reducing microsleeps and an evaluation of the holistic symptom impact of NT1 in the United States.

About Oveporexton (TAK-861)

Oveporexton (TAK-861) is an investigational orexin receptor 2 (OX2R)-selective agonist, which selectively stimulates the OX2R to restore signaling and address the underlying orexin deficiency that causes narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). By activating OX2Rs, oveporexton is designed to promote wakefulness and reduce abnormal rapid eye movement (REM)-sleep like phenomena, including cataplexy, to address a broad spectrum of daytime and nighttime symptoms. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) and granted Priority Review for oveporexton, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date in the third quarter of this calendar year. Regulatory submissions for oveporexton are also under review in China and Japan, with additional submissions planned throughout the year. Oveporexton is an investigational compound that has not been approved for use by any regulatory authority.

About the FirstLight and RadiantLight Phase 3 Orexin Studies

FirstLight (TAK-861-3001; NCT06470828) and RadiantLight (TAK-861-3002; NCT06505031) are global, multicenter, placebo-controlled studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of oveporexton compared to placebo in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) over 12 weeks. The studies were conducted in 19 countries, with enrollment completed within six months. The FirstLight study enrolled 168 participants randomized to one of three dosing arms (twice-daily 2mg, 1mg and placebo). The RadiantLight study enrolled 105 participants randomized to two dosing arms (twice-daily 2mg and placebo). More than 95 percent of the participants who completed the studies enrolled in the ongoing long-term extension (LTE) study.

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Important Notice

For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question-and-answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “outlook” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States and with respect to international trade relations; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including tax, tariff and other trade-related rules; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic; the success of our environmental sustainability efforts, in enabling us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or meet our other environmental goals; the extent to which our efforts to increase efficiency, productivity or cost-savings, such as the integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, in our business or other initiatives to restructure our operations will lead to the expected benefits; and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.

Medical Information

This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

References

1 Plazzi G, Dauvilliers Y, Pizza F, et al. Effect of the Oral Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist Oveporexton (TAK-861) on Functional Impacts of Narcolepsy Type 1: Results from Two Phase 3 Studies. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.
2 Pizza F, Dauvilliers Y, Del Rio Villegas R, et al. Oveporexton (TAK-861) Improves Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Narcolepsy Type 1: Results from Two Randomized, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Trials. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.
3 Barateau L, Gong Y, Dauvilliers Y, et al. Effects of Treatment with Oveporexton, an Orexin Receptor 2 Agonist, on Sleep in People with Narcolepsy Type 1: Phase 3 Results. Presented at: SLEEP 2026; 14-17 June 2026; Baltimore, MD.
4 The topline results of these studies were shared on September 8, 2025, in “Takeda Presents Orexin Data from Landmark Oveporexton (TAK-861) Phase 3 Program in Narcolepsy Type 1 at World Sleep 2025.”
5 Crawford S, et al. Sleep 2024;47(suppl 1):A288.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260615651327/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations

Christopher O’Reilly
takeda.ir.contact@takeda.com

Media Relations

Tsuyoshi Tada (Tokyo)
Toiawase_kouhou@takeda.co.jp

Kristi Bond (Boston)
Media_relations@takeda.com

(c) 2024 Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in multiplatform press release distribution.

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

MSCI Announces the Results of the MSCI 2026 Market Classification Review23.6.2026 23:42:00 CEST | Press Release

MSCI released the results of the MSCI 2026 Market Classification Review. Key takeaways from this year's review include: Reclassification of Bulgaria from Standalone to Frontier Market status Assessment of shareholder transparency and coordinated trading concerns in the Indonesian and Turkish equity markets, acknowledging the announced steps undertaken by both markets to address these matters and noting the continued potential for future consultations on the appropriate treatment of these markets if credible progress is not observed Acknowledgement of the removal of floor prices in Bangladesh, with a caution that any reintroduction could prompt a consultation on reclassification from Frontier to Standalone Market status Ongoing monitoring of the implementation of measures aimed at improving the accessibility of the Korean equity market for international institutional investors Reminder on the reclassification of Greece from Emerging to Developed Market status at the May 2027 Index Revie

Elliptic Intelligence Used by the FBI in Action Against Huione, the $134 Billion Criminal Marketplace and Money Laundering Operation23.6.2026 23:28:00 CEST | Press Release

Elliptic, the global leader in digital asset decisioning, today announced that its intelligence was used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in today's action against the operators of Huione Group. The Justice Department announced the seizure of a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of the Huione Group, a Cambodia-based corporate conglomerate. First exposed by Elliptic in July 2024, Huione Guarantee was a Telegram-based marketplace serving online fraudsters across Southeast Asia. Merchants sold money laundering services, stolen personal data, websites and other goods and services necessary to perpetrate so-called “pig-butchering” scams and other online fraud., By the time Huione was forced offline, it had received more than $31 billion in cryptoasset transactions, making it the largest illicit online marketplace ever recorded, more than 25 times larger than Silk Road and AlphaBay combined. Huione Group’s payments arm, Huione Pay, was also implicated in the laundering of pro

Rockwell Automation Site Named a World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse23.6.2026 23:13:00 CEST | Press Release

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced its Singapore manufacturing facility has been named a member of the Global Lighthouse Network by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The designation recognizes this facility for applying advanced technologies at scale to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality and workforce enablement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623794856/en/ Rockwell Automation Site Named a World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse Rockwell’s Singapore site was recognized with distinction in the productivity category, reflecting its transformation into a highly flexible, data-driven operation. By deploying more than 50 digital and AI-enabled solutions - including intelligent automation, AI-driven quality control and predictive maintenance - the facility improved output efficiency,

NIKE, Inc. Announces Planned CFO Transition23.6.2026 22:17:00 CEST | Press Release

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today announced that David M. Denton will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective August 17. Matthew Friend will step down as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at that time and remain with the company through September 4 to support an orderly transition. Friend will participate in the company’s fourth quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call on June 30, as planned. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623328558/en/ David M. Denton | Incoming Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, NIKE, Inc. Denton will lead Nike’s global finance organization, partnering with President and Chief Executive Officer Elliott Hill and the Senior Leadership Team to support disciplined execution, capital allocation, and long-term value creation. “Dave is a proven public-company CFO who knows how to help great consumer brands operate with disciplin

Grid Dynamics Hosted XT26, Convening Capital Markets Technology Leaders on the Volatility of AI in Financial Services23.6.2026 22:05:00 CEST | Press Release

Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: GDYN) (“Grid Dynamics”), a premier AI transformation partner for the Fortune 1000, hosted XT26. The invite-only conference convened over 250 senior technology leaders from banking, hedge funds, and capital markets at Tower Hill, London. Now in its 10th year, the XT conference series has grown into one of financial services engineering's most respected peer forums in London, built on a single premise: pure thought leadership grounded in real-world experience, with no sales pitches, and no vendor presentations. Just practitioners who are actually doing the work. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623112231/en/ Simone Steel speaking at XT26 The event included speakers and delegates from organizations including Bank of America, Citi, HSBC, UBS, RBC, Barclays, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, NatWest, Meta, FINOS, and Griffin Bank, among others. With a focus on the volatility of AI i

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye