Wake Up to Change: New Targets and Therapeutic Strategies in Narcolepsy

This activity was originally presented live at Asembia's AXS26 Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada

Program Description

Narcolepsy is a chronic, often debilitating neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and, in many cases, cataplexy, resulting from the autoimmune-mediated loss of hypocretin-producing neurons. Narcolepsy has a profound impact on patient quality of life and functional outcomes, and treatment and management can be complicated by the cardiovascular risk profiles, safety considerations, and real-world tolerability of available therapies. Despite available therapies, unmet needs remain in achieving optimal symptom control and long-term treatment persistence. This session provides a deep dive into the evolving narcolepsy treatment landscape, emphasizing the critical role of the hypocretin (orexin) system in regulating wakefulness and REM sleep. Participants will explore current management strategies, including traditional sodium oxybate formulations and newer agents like pitolisant and solriamfetol, while examining the clinical data for emerging orexin receptor agonists that aim to address the underlying pathophysiology of narcolepsy. Pharmacists can assist in the integration of new therapies into existing treatment plans and adjust existing regimens to incorporate adjunctive therapies. Through case-based discussions, the session will focus on translating guideline recommendations into clinical practice, empowering pharmacists to manage complex polypharmacy, optimize treatment sequencing, and provide essential patient counseling to improve safety and therapeutic outcomes. The session will also touch on considerations relevant to formulary evaluation and coverage decision-making to support appropriate access and sustained treatment benefit.

Target audience: Specialty Pharmacist
Type of Activity: Application
Release date: May 12, 2026
Expiration date: May 12, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify the pathophysiology of narcolepsy and the role of the hypocretin (orexin) system in regulating wakefulness and REM sleep
• Explain the clinical efficacy and safety of approved and investigational therapeutic options for managing narcolepsy.
• Apply knowledge of the mechanism of action of therapeutic options for narcolepsy to patient counseling scenarios and medication management decisions