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Sleep Europe 2026 | Oveporexton approval in China for NT1: patient selection and switching
Shuqin Zhan, MD, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, discusses patient selection and treatment switching with oveporexton, now approved in China for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) in adolescents aged 16 years and older and adults. Dr Zhan explains that she would first consider patients with persistent daytime sleepiness or cataplexy despite current treatment, or those with poor tolerance of existing medications. For patients stable on existing therapies, she would not switch automatically but would discuss benefits and risks and plan any transition carefully. This interview took place at Sleep Europe 2026 in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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Transcript
Now oveporexton is available in China. I believe it represents an important new treatment option for patients with narcolepsy type 1. In clinical practice, I would first consider patients who continue to experience significant daytime sleepiness or cataplexy, currently under treatment, as well as those who have a difficult, tolerant, or exciting medication because oveporexton directly targets the orexin receptor 2 pathway...
Now oveporexton is available in China. I believe it represents an important new treatment option for patients with narcolepsy type 1. In clinical practice, I would first consider patients who continue to experience significant daytime sleepiness or cataplexy, currently under treatment, as well as those who have a difficult, tolerant, or exciting medication because oveporexton directly targets the orexin receptor 2 pathway. It offers mechanism-based approach addresses the underlying orexin deficiency in narcolepsy type 1. For patients who are already stable on existing therapies, I would not recommend switching everyone automatically. Instead, I would discuss the patient’s benefits and the risks with each patient, and take into account the symptom control, quality of life, and treatment preference. If we decided to switch, I would develop an individual transition plan carefully, considering the medications the patient is currently taking and monitoring symptoms during the transition. Our goal is not just to introduce a new drug, but to achieve better long-term disease control and improve the patient’s daily function and quality of life.
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