Centessa Pharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Stephen Kanes, MD PhD, as Chief Medical Officer

Company Overview - Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing transformational medicines for patients [2] - The company is developing potential best-in-class orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists for the treatment of sleep-wake disorders, including narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) [2] - The lead OX2R agonist, ORX750, is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for NT1, NT2, and IH [2] Recent Developments - The appointment of Stephen Kanes MD PhD as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has been announced, bringing over 30 years of experience in neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and drug development [1] - Dr. Kanes previously served as CMO at Sage Therapeutics, where he led the development of ZULRESSO® (brexanolone), the first treatment approved for Postpartum Depression [1] - The company anticipates a robust series of clinical milestones for its OX2R agonists throughout the year [1] Therapeutic Focus - Centessa's OX2R agonists aim to address unmet patient needs across multiple therapeutic areas, including sleep-wake, neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders [1] - The company also aims to explore the utility of OX2R agonists in treating impaired attention, cognitive deficits, and fatigue [2] - The proprietary LockBody technology platform is designed to redefine immuno-oncology treatment for cancer patients by selectively targeting the tumor micro-environment while minimizing systemic toxicity [2]