Narcolepsy: new therapeutic hope with oveporexton

Risk falling asleep at any time, including during activity; having hallucinations when waking up; transforming into a “rag doll” after a burst of laughter… Type 1 narcolepsy is considered the most debilitating sleep disorder.

“Positive emotions lead to a loss of muscular strength (cataplexy) in these patients,” relates Professor Yves Dauvilliers, head of the sleep and wakefulness disorders team at Montpellier University Hospital. You may fall, or see your head tilt forward, your arms and knees bend for a few seconds. »

For the 20,000 people suffering from this rare disease in France, the results of two clinical trials published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine constitute a turning point. The study shows the effectiveness of a new drug, oveporexton, in reducing drowsiness and the frequency of cataplexy episodes. “The treatment produced an immediate effect that persisted for…