Eli Lilly and Company has completed its acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals, strengthening its neuroscience portfolio with a focus on developing innovative therapies for narcolepsy and other sleep-wake disorders.

Centessa is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing orexin receptor 2 agonists, a new class of investigational medicines designed to restore wakefulness and improve sleep stability in patients with narcolepsy. The company is also exploring the potential of these therapies for the treatment of other neurological conditions associated with disrupted sleep-wake cycles.

The acquisition is expected to enhance Lilly’s efforts in addressing neurological disorders by advancing Centessa’s clinical pipeline and accelerating the development of orexin-based therapies.

Commenting on the acquisition, Carole Ho, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Neuroscience, said the orexin system plays a critical role in regulating wakefulness, alertness and sleep stability and disruptions in this system can have severe consequences for patients with narcolepsy. She noted that the impact of orexin extends beyond narcolepsy to other diseases associated with disrupted sleep, representing a significant unmet medical need. Ho added that Centessa has developed a strong clinical portfolio in this area and Lilly intends to advance these programmes with urgency.

The acquisition aligns with Lilly’s broader strategy of expanding its research and development capabilities across major therapeutic areas. Alongside its neuroscience programmes, the company continues to invest in innovations aimed at improving diabetes care, treating obesity and its long-term complications, advancing therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, addressing immune-mediated disorders and developing new treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.