The Tang Prize Foundation announced the recipients of the 2024 Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science on Wednesday. Joel F. Habener, Svetlana Mojsov, and Jens Juul Holst were recognized for their work on GLP-1 (7-37), a crucial discovery in diabetes and obesity treatment.
GLP-1 (7-37) is a hormone that plays a vital role in regulating insulin release. When blood sugar levels rise, GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas, aiding in glucose control. The discovery and development of GLP-1 (7-37)-based therapies have revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and obesity worldwide.
Dr. Habener, from Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, initiated the discovery by cloning the anglerfish preproglucagon gene, identifying GLP-1 as a key player in insulin secretion. Dr. Mojsov, also at Mass General, synthesized and validated GLP-1 (7-37)'s insulinotropic effects, while Dr. Holst, at the University of Copenhagen, expanded its therapeutic applications, including weight loss as a part of obese patient treatment.
Today around 500 million people suffer from diabetes and nearly 1 billion are obese globally. In Taiwan, over 2 million people have diabetes, increasing by 25,000 annually. These conditions lead to severe complications like cardiovascular disease and kidney issues. GLP-1-based therapies have emerged as successful treatments for these conditions, benefiting millions worldwide.