2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 was awarded with one half jointly to William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites and the other half to Youyou Tu for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria.

Diseases caused by parasites have plagued humankind for millennia and constitute a major global health problem. In particular, parasitic diseases affect the world’s poorest populations and represent a huge barrier to improving human health and wellbeing. This year’s Nobel Laureates have developed therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases.

William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura discovered a new drug, Avermectin, the derivatives of which have radically lowered the incidence of River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis, as well as showing efficacy against an expanding number of other parasitic diseases. Youyou Tu discovered Artemisinin, a drug that has significantly reduced the mortality rates for patients suffering from Malaria.

These two discoveries have provided humankind with powerful new means to combat these debilitating diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people annually. The consequences in terms of improved human health and reduced suffering are immeasurable.

Parasites cause devastating diseases
We live in a biologically complex world, which is populated not only by humans and other large animals, but also by a plethora of other organisms, some of which are harmful or deadly to us.

A variety of parasites cause disease. A medically important group are the parasitic worms (helminths), which are estimated to afflict one third of the world’s population and are particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Central and South America. River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis are two diseases caused by parasitic worms. As the name implies, River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) ultimately leads to blindness, because of chronic inflammation in the cornea. Lymphatic Filariasis, afflicting more than 100 million people, causes chronic swelling and leads to life-long stigmatizing and disabling clinical symptoms, including Elephantiasis (Lymphedema) and Scrotal Hydrocele.

Malaria has been with humankind for as long as we know. It is a mosquito-borne disease caused by single-cell parasites, which invade red blood cells, causing fever, and in severe cases brain damage and death. More than 3.4 billion of the world’s most vulnerable citizens are at risk of contracting Malaria, and each year it claims more than 450 000 lives, predominantly among children.

After decades of limited progress in developing durable therapies for parasitic diseases, the discoveries by this year’s Laureates radically changed the situation…
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Wellcome Trust reaction to Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015
5 October 2015
Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar has issued the below statement in reaction today’s announcement that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for groundbreaking work on parasitic diseases:

The 2015 prize is shared between William C Campbell and Satoshi Omura for their work on a new way of tackling infections caused by roundworm parasites; and Tu Youyou for her role in the discovery of a therapy against malaria.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: “I am delighted that the development of drugs to tackle parasitic infectious diseases has been recognised. Today’s Nobel Prize rightly highlights the impact of studying the neglected tropical diseases that kill millions worldwide – the discovery of artemisinin and avermectins has transformed the treatment of malaria, river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

“The restrictions of the Prize, however, mean that other Chinese scientists who played a critical role in the discovery of artemisinin are unfortunately not acknowledged alongside Dr Tu Youyou. The pivotal role they played in China’s first Nobel Prize for medicine should be honoured and celebrated. We should also remember those whose work ensured it was developed as a medicine and then used worldwide. Scientific endeavour is increasingly a collaborative and global effort that involves great contributions from many individuals.”