Discovery of groundbreaking medicines for obesity and diabetes
Matthias Tschöp is a physician-scientist who has made a series of groundbreaking discoveries in the field of diabetes. In addition to the hunger hormone ghrelin which he identified in 2000, Tschöp and his long-term chemistry collaborator Richard DiMarchi discovered the therapeutic class of dual and triple gut hormone drugs, the so-called polyagonists. Their research resulted in a novel class of drugs, which have been approved in the USA last year. There are a further ten polyagonists currently in clinical trials, promising a new era of metabolic medicine. For the first time, the widespread diseases of overweight and obesity can be effectively treated with these novel drugs, thereby significantly reducing the risk of developing diabetes. The discoveries of Matthias Tschöp have contributed substantially to advance the field of diabetes care and research and have significantly transformed the fight against the disease.
Prof. Dr. Matthias Tschöp giving his talk at the annual meeting of the ADA. © DZD
Currently youngest laureate
Established in 1941, the prize is awarded in memory of Nobel laureate Sir Frederick Banting, one of the discoverers of insulin and its therapeutic application. Matthias Tschöp is not only the first German scientist to receive this medal, but also currently the youngest Banting Medal recipient. The diabetes researcher is CEO and scientific director at Helmholtz Munich, Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and vice president of the Helmholtz Association for the Research Field Health.
ADA press release on the award ceremony
Interview: "Reversing Obesity with Multiceptor Drugs" (Helmholtz Munich)
Interview: “Advancing the fight against obesity” with Matthias Tschöp (Helmholtz Association)