AEX-635

**AEX-635** is a lead compound from the AEX-6xx series within the DOXA platform, consisting of novel dihydroquinazoline and dihydrobenzothiazine derivatives developed by Aexon Labs and licensed to NLS Pharmaceutics. It acts as a dual orexin receptor agonist targeting OX1R and OX2R to regulate sleep-wake cycles, motivation, and arousal, while also inhibiting cathepsin H (CTSH) for neuronal resilience; additionally, it modulates Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1 (MRP1) to enhance neuroprotection, improve blood-brain barrier penetration, and boost CNS drug bioavailability under oxidative stress. Preclinical data demonstrate robust neuroprotective activity in α-synuclein-induced stress models, supporting evaluation in narcolepsy, hypersomnia, ADHD, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's, with IND-enabling studies planned.[1][3][7]