The research team of five has shared the year’s Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. Their innovative development of GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, has landed them in this prestigious honorarium. Consequently, these drugs have gained widespread popularity among prescribers during the last decade. GLP-1s are the latest tools in the toolbox to safely and effectively control both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The awards ceremony took place on October 21, 2023. It honored the extraordinary breakthroughs in medical science that make those drugs possible and highlighted the promise of GLP-1 drugs to address some of our biggest health challenges.
GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a hormone that the intestine releases after we eat. It’s central to maintaining glucose homeostasis by stimulating insulin secretion, inhibiting food intake and slowing gastric emptying postprandially. Dr. Jens Holst and his colleagues at the University of Copenhagen were the first to discover this hormone in the 1980s. Its unique properties have given rise to revolutionary treatments that continue to change lives.
In the United States, approximately one in eight adults has reported using a GLP-1 drug at some point in their lives. Their popularity is due to how well these medications work to help people lose weight and manage their blood sugar. We’ve learned from recent studies in the diabetes and obesity space that GLP-1 drugs are effective in helping to control these diseases. They might provide new keys to cures for other maladies, including substance-use disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Just five years later, researchers released a new large-scale study. Researchers discovered that GLP-1s can strongly reduce the risk of developing 42 unique health conditions. The same study found that those same medications could increase the risk of developing 19 other health complications. This duality highlights the importance of further studying the long- and short-term effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists, beyond weight loss, on people’s health.
The Breakthrough Prizes, awarded every year, seek to recognize the world’s most advanced scientists creating paradigm-shifting advances in basic sciences. Dr. Holst has accepted this honor with gratitude. They’re excited to see their work recognized in an emerging field that holds great potential for breakthroughs in medicine.
“When something [like this award] drops in completely unexpected, that’s nice, that’s wonderful,” – Dr. Jens Holst.
Dr. Holst also emphasized the broader implications of obesity and its related complications, stating, “What we know is that obesity is associated with a hell of [a lot of] complications.” He further noted the potential of GLP-1 compounds in preventive measures: “The important thing is that with these compounds, you can prevent that.”
GLP-1 drugs still being researched are on the cutting edge. Find out about their exciting potential beyond diabetes and obesity. These drugs work by augmenting the secretion of the body’s native GLP-1 hormone. This would widen the scope of treatment options available to patients suffering from multiple other medical conditions.
As the science behind GLP-1 and its many applications continue to grow, its potential to transform the healthcare landscape is enormous. Recent discoveries have illuminated the ways in which GLP-1 can contribute to improved weight management and metabolic health. That cements its position as a critical linchpin in modern medicine.
