Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Altrincham, United Kingdom, with operations in Boston, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 2020, it focuses on discovering and developing transformative medicines, particularly a pipeline of orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists targeting sleep-wake disorders such as narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia.
Its lead candidate, cleminorexton (formerly ORX750), is an oral OX2R agonist that demonstrated a potentially best-in-class profile in Phase 2a trials across these indications. The portfolio includes additional clinical-stage assets like ORX142 and preclinical programs such as ORX489, with potential applications in neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Centessa also maintains an early-stage immuno-oncology program based on its LockBody® technology platform.
In March 2026, Eli Lilly announced an agreement to acquire Centessa for $38 per ADS in cash plus a non-transferable CVR worth up to $9 contingent on regulatory milestones, valuing the deal at up to approximately $7.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to approvals.
