默克公司研发的Belsomra是一种食欲肽受体拮抗剂，是同类药物中第一种获FDA批准的失眠症治疗药物。食欲肽 (Orexin)是一种内源性化学物质，主要功能为调节睡眠--醒觉周期，并维持人体处于觉醒状态。Belsomra可改变食欲肽对大脑的影响，达到促进睡眠并维持睡眠的作用。
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Belsomra (suvorexant) tablets for use as needed to treat difficulty in falling and staying asleep (insomnia).
Belsomra is an orexin receptor antagonist and is the first approved drug of this type. Orexins are chemicals that are involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle and play a role in keeping people awake. Belsomra alters the signaling (action) of orexin in the brain.
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FDA approves new type of sleep drug, Belsomra
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对食欲肽 (Orexin)感兴趣者可以参看日本学者发表在The Journal of Neuroscience上的一篇研究论文: Orexin Directly Excites Orexin Neurons through Orexin 2 Receptor
日本学者2010年的研究: 认为Orexin投射到单胺及胆碱能神经核团干预和调节睡眠和觉醒等生理活动。
