Adrafinil, a new molecule identified by a French drug company, L. Lafon Ltd, in 1974 … the kinetics of adrafinil led to the identification of an active metabolite, modafinil.
Billiard, Broughton · Sleep medicine (2018)
- Historical review tracing adrafinil (identified by Lafon in 1974) and the discovery of its active metabolite, modafinil
- Michel Jouvet prescribed adrafinil to narcoleptic patients as early as 1977–78 but 'without consistent results'
- Modafinil was discovered through adrafinil's pharmacokinetics and went on to become the better-characterized drug