Two scientists have received a prestigious award for discovering orexin, a brain chemical that promotes wakefulness. Dr. Masashi Yanagisawa and Dr. Emmanuel Mignot independently identified orexin’s function in 1999, fundamentally changing how researchers understand sleep regulation. Their work has since led to the development of new medications for treating both insomnia and narcolepsy, making it a breakthrough with practical applications for millions of patients.
Mignot’s research took an unconventional path by studying narcoleptic dogs rather than focusing solely on human patients. Working with a colony of dogs exhibiting narcolepsy symptoms, he pursued a genetic approach to uncover the disease’s underlying cause. After a decade-long investigation that many colleagues doubted would succeed, Mignot’s team identified the orexin receptor, a protein on cell surfaces that could serve as a drug target. The discovery proved both groundbreaking and surprisingly straightforward, offering insight into a condition that had long been misunderstood and neglected in medical practice.
The identification of orexin transformed how narcolepsy is recognized and treated. Following the discovery’s publication, awareness of the disorder increased dramatically, leading physicians to identify cases they had previously overlooked, particularly in children. Pharmaceutical companies rapidly developed orexin-blocking medications that proved highly effective and safer than older treatment options. Beyond narcolepsy, researchers now believe these drugs may benefit patients with attention disorders, depression accompanied by excessive sleepiness, and other conditions affecting motivation and alertness.
Originally reported by Livescience →
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