Alkermes Sleep Drug Shows Early ADHD Efficacy; Cue Biopharma Slides on Urticaria Data

Alkermes said its orexin-2 drug ALKS 7290 demonstrated "proof of concept" in an early-stage ADHD trial, producing dose-dependent, clinically meaningful symptom improvements. A Phase 2 study is underway, with data expected in 2027. Leerink analyst Marc Goodman called the results promising but unsurprising given effective generics. Cue Biopharma reported its in-licensed drug CUE-221 met Phase 2 goals in chronic spontaneous urticaria in China, with all three doses outperforming placebo at 12 weeks and effects potentially persisting past the 16-week final dose. Jefferies analyst Maury Raycroft called the stock's roughly 25% Monday drop "unwarranted." Cue licensed the therapy from Ascendant Life Sciences in April. Separately, the FDA expanded Eli Lilly's Inluriyo to combine with Verzenio in ESR1-mutant breast cancer, and Johnson & Johnson's Caplyta succeeded in a Phase 3 bipolar I mania study.