Three scientists whose work at different stages led to the development of semaglutide – a breakthrough treatment for obesity, diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases – have been recognised with a prestigious award from the University of Edinburgh.
Professor Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, Dr Thomas Kruse and Dr Jesper Lau of Novo Nordisk – a leading global pharmaceutical company – have played central roles in the discovery and development of the medicine, which has reshaped the treatment of type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management worldwide.
In recognition of this achievement, the trio have been awarded the Cameron Prize for Therapeutics. The prize is presented every two years for a major recent advance in practical therapeutic treatment.
Obesity and cardiometabolic disease are among the most pressing global health challenges, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and certain cancers.
Hundreds of millions of people are affected worldwide, placing significant strain on health systems.
In response to this growing crisis, researchers have developed therapies targeting the biological drivers of appetite and metabolism. One of the most significant advances has been semaglutide – a medicine that mimics a natural hormone to control blood sugar and reduce appetite.
Award-winning scientists Professor Knudsen, Dr Kruse and Dr Lau were central to semaglutide’s development, building on decades of metabolic research.
Novo Nordisk researchers first began taking an interest in the naturally-occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1, in the early 1990s. GLP-1 had been identified by academic researchers in the 1980s but the hormone broke down too quickly in the body to be clinically useful.
Determined to overcome that limitation, researchers at Novo Nordisk re-engineered the natural hormone to extend its action. The first major breakthrough, led by Professor Knudsen, was liraglutide, approved in 2010 in the United States as Victoza for type 2 diabetes.
Dr Kruse and Dr Lau led the work to develop a GLP-1 compound with increased half-life and improved stability so it could be taken just once a week. The result was semaglutide.
It was approved in 2017 as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and in 2021 as Wegovy for chronic weight management. Clinical trials demonstrated substantial and sustained weight loss, alongside reductions in cardiovascular risk among people with obesity and established heart disease.
Professor David Argyle, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The development of semaglutide represents one of the most significant advances in the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic disease in recent decades. We are delighted to recognise the scientists whose sustained research and innovation have delivered meaningful benefits for patients worldwide.”
Dr Martin Holst Lange, Executive Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development at Novo Nordisk, said: “Novo Nordisk has pioneered research and development in the GLP-1 field for 35 years with a focus on both type 2 diabetes and obesity, and we were the first to introduce GLP-1 medicine for weight management. Lotte, Jesper and Thomas have all been instrumental in this work at Novo Nordisk, and I am proud to see them recognised for their pivotal roles in advancing this class of medicine.”
First awarded in 1879, the Cameron Prize for Therapeutics has recognised numerous Nobel and Lasker laureates. Previous recipients include Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, Alexander Fleming, and more recently Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, whose work underpinned the development of mRNA vaccines for Covid-19.
Dr Kruse and Dr Lau will present their research at the Pharmacology Futures 2026 event at the University on 4 June.