A Japanese biochemist named Akira Endo had just discovered something incredibly profound that would permanently alter the treatment of heart disease. His relentless chase for a cholesterol-lowering agent resulted in the creation of statins, the drugs that now save lives by the hundreds of thousands all over the world.
The Humble Beginnings of a Scientific Pioneer
Akira Endo started in the family of a peasant farmer in northern Japan. Nevertheless, he was inspired early in his life by his grandfather who had a strong passion for medical education.
As a medical student, Endo was enthralled by the potency of antibiotics such as penicillin and the prospect they might lead to new therapies for saving lives. That exposure to the life-changing power of scientific research gave my research direction for years ahead.
Endo finished learning and academic research in New York, where he observed its oppressive forms through the consequences of coronary heart disease. He says he was inspired by the image of older people being rushed to hospital with heart attacks and decided to look for a solution to this “huge public health problem”.
The Relentless Quest for a Cholesterol-Lowering Agent
This work eventually took Endo to the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, on a long road to find a compound that could effectively reduce cholesterol to create a drug. He endeavoured to find the holy grail of heart disease prevention by testing thousands of microbe strains.
Having spent years working relentlessly, Endo’s hard work finally paid off when he eventually found mevastatin: a compound made of a derivative penicillin that lowered cholesterol concentration in the blood. It was truly indicative of Endo’s scientific genius and his eye for recognizing the untapped potential of nature.
Endo’s discovery had monumental repercussions. Statins, the class of drugs that resulted from his research, is now one of the most widely prescribed medicines in the world with over 200 million people worldwide taking them to control their cholesterol and lower their risk for heart attacks and strokes. Statin resin-based global market was valued at US$ 15 billion in the year 2023 and is likely to see high growth in future.
Conclusion
The fact that Akira Endo managed to discover statins despite the incredulity of others around him speaks to his strength as a scientist and the integrity with which he dedicated himself to ameliorating the human condition. His pioneering research has revolutionised the world of heart health, saving millions of lives and spawning a multi-billion dollar industry. Though Endo may have been robbed of the Nobel Prize many believed he so clearly deserved, his great work in medicine will be lasting and only increase with more research by generations of scientists and medical professionals.
