Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., trading on the OTC Markets as OREXQ, is a biopharmaceutical company originally founded in 2003 and headquartered in Newark, California. The company was established with a focus on developing novel treatments for obesity and related metabolic disorders. Orexigen’s research strategy centered on leveraging combination pharmacotherapy to address complex pathways involved in weight regulation, marking it as a pioneer in the field of obesity drug development.
The company’s flagship product, Contrave, is a patented oral therapy combining naltrexone and bupropion. Contrave received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight conditions accompanied by at least one weight-related comorbidity. In addition to its U.S. commercialization efforts, Orexigen pursued global partnerships, licensing rights for Contrave to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for North American distribution and to other strategic collaborators for markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Throughout its operational history, Orexigen maintained a lean development pipeline, exploring extended-release formulations and additional obesity-related indications. Its research and clinical teams conducted Phase II and III studies to evaluate combination therapies targeting appetite and energy expenditure pathways. The company’s clinical programs and regulatory engagements underscored its commitment to advancing obesity treatment in a landscape with few effective pharmacological options.
Under the leadership of former Chief Executive Officer Donald Kilbourn, M.D., Orexigen navigated early commercial launches and regulatory milestones. In March 2018, the company filed for voluntary bankruptcy and subsequently completed the sale of its Contrave assets to a specialty pharmaceutical acquirer. Today, OREXQ continues to trade as an OTC-listed entity, representing the corporate shell of the former operating biopharma, while the underlying obesity therapy portfolio is now managed by successor organizations.
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