13 Best Biotech Stocks To Invest In Now

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11. Centessa Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CNTA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

Centessa Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CNTA) is one of the best biotech stocks to invest in now. On June 16, Centessa Pharmaceuticals announced that the US FDA cleared its Investigational New Drug/IND application for ORX142. The clearance allows Centessa to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study of ORX142 in healthy volunteers.

ORX142 is a novel, highly potent, and selective orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist, and it represents the second drug candidate from the company’s multi-asset orexin franchise. The company’s most advanced OX2R agonist, ORX750, is currently in the Phase 2a CRYSTAL-1 study for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH). With ORX142, Centessa aims to explore its potential for several neurological and neurodegenerative disorders that have unmet needs.

The Phase 1 study for ORX142 will evaluate its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics. Centessa plans to begin the first-in-human clinical study imminently, with early proof-of-concept data expected in 2025. This data will help in selecting the appropriate dose for future studies involving patients. Orexin is a neuropeptide for regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Targeting the orexin pathway with OX2R agonists is a promising strategy to address issues like excessive daytime sleepiness/EDS, impaired attention, cognitive deficits, and fatigue.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CNTA) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and delivers medicines.

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