Sleep drug could unlock secrets of depression and anxiety

NCT ID NCT07267559

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at how daridorexant, a sleep medication that blocks the brain chemical orexin, affects emotional processing and learning in 62 healthy adults. Participants take a single dose of the drug or a placebo and then complete tasks that measure emotional responses and learning. The goal is to better understand orexin's role in mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Daridorexant (brand name Quviviq), a sleep medication that blocks orexin, a brain chemical involved in sleep, emotion, and stress.

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could reveal how orexin influences emotional and cognitive processes, potentially pointing toward new treatments for depression and anxiety.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. It only measures brain responses, not actual treatment effects, so results may not translate to real-world therapies.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

learning disability

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

    RECRUITING

    Oxford, OX3 7JX, United Kingdom

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••