ECNP 2021 | Orexin receptor antagonists for the treatment of insomnia

Orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs) are a new class of drugs in development for the treatment of insomnia, the first of which -suvorexant- was approved by the FDA in 2014, followed by lemborexant in 2019. Liborio Parrino, PhD, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy, discusses the promise of ORAs as an exciting new treatment approach for patients with insomnia. Continued investigation into the orexin (also known as hypocretin) system and further drug development will not only bring clinical advantages but further our knowledge on the pathophysiology of sleep disorders. This interview took place at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology congress 2021.