Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinology researcher at the University of Toronto, has been awarded a prestigious 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his groundbreaking discovery of the GLP-1 hormone used in diabetes and obesity medications, including the widely prescribed Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
The $3 million prize is shared with four international colleagues: Joel Habener from Harvard Medical School, Jens Juul Holst from the University of Copenhagen, Svetlana Mojsov from The Rockefeller University, and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in Denmark.
Drucker has dedicated 40 years to studying GLP-1's remarkable properties, which include stimulating insulin production for diabetes treatment and promoting weight loss in patients with obesity. The award ceremony, often referred to as the "Oscars of Science," took place in Los Angeles on Saturday.
"It's a tremendous honour to receive this prestigious award," said Drucker. "But the most amazing gratification is when someone comes to my office and says, 'I lost 40 pounds [18 kg] and I feel healthy'."
From Laboratory Discovery to Life-Changing Medications
Drucker's journey with GLP-1 began in the 1980s at a laboratory in Boston, where he studied genetic sequencing of glucagon-like peptides. After returning to Canada, he continued his research at the University of Toronto, where he and his colleagues made a critical discovery in the 1990s: GLP-1 caused animals to eat less and lose weight.
This finding laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most significant therapeutic breakthroughs in metabolic disease treatment. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen of Novo Nordisk played a crucial role in drug development by stabilizing GLP-1 with fatty-acid chains, enabling it to bind to proteins in the blood and preventing rapid breakdown after injection.
The resulting medications have transformed treatment options for millions of patients worldwide struggling with diabetes and obesity, conditions that significantly increase the risk of serious health complications.
Clinical Impact and Future Potential
The impact of GLP-1 medications extends far beyond weight management. According to Drucker, research now demonstrates that these drugs can help reduce heart attacks, strokes, and death from cardiovascular disease—addressing some of the most serious complications associated with metabolic disorders.
"This class of drugs truly saves lives, changes lives and brings joy back to people's lives," says Ziyad Al-Aly, a physician-scientist at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System in Missouri, who recently led a massive study analyzing data from almost two million people to evaluate the effects of such medication.
The therapeutic potential of GLP-1 agonists continues to expand, with promising research suggesting applications for reducing inflammation and possibly treating arthritis, kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease. These developments represent potential new frontiers in addressing conditions with significant unmet medical needs.
Recognition for Scientific Excellence
The Breakthrough Foundation, which established the prizes to "celebrate the wonders of our scientific age," has highlighted the profound impact of this research on public health. For Drucker, the recognition carries special significance because it's awarded by fellow scientists and "gets a lot of attention in the scientific community."
"We have students and trainees and awards like this tell them that the world is watching and thinks the work is meritorious. And I think that's just great for morale and for young people," Drucker said in an interview prior to the award ceremony.
Another Canadian scientist, Maaike van Kooten of National Research Council Canada, shared a US$100,000 New Horizons in Physics prize with two international colleagues for work in optics to view exoplanets, further highlighting Canadian contributions to global scientific advancement.
The recognition of GLP-1 research underscores how fundamental scientific discoveries can lead to transformative therapies that address major public health challenges. As obesity rates continue to rise globally, the work of Drucker and his colleagues offers hope for more effective management of this complex condition and its associated comorbidities.
