Lexicon Genetics receives grant to research sleep deprivation

The drugs will be developed to enhance the restorative benefits derived from sleep and offset problems associated with sleep deprivation.

Under the award, Lexicon will be investigating the molecular and cellular basis of sleep and the correlation between sleep architecture and performance. Lexicon will also study specific genes that alter normal sleep cycles. The goal of this research program is to identify potential drug targets that may optimize restorative sleep and improve performance after sleep deprivation.

“Through use of our proprietary drug target discovery platform, we have identified two genes that appear to impact the mechanism of sleep,” said Brian Zambrowicz, executive vice president of research at Lexicon. “Our work under this grant may have application to the military and the general population.”

Sleep deprivation has been demonstrated to affect physiology and behavior with negative consequences, including increases in blood pressure, nervous system activation, impaired glucose homeostasis and elevated inflammation. Sleep loss has also been shown to adversely affect cognitive performance.

Financial terms of the one-year award were not disclosed.