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Roundup: Chinese, Irish, Japanese scientists share 2015 Nobel Prize for physiology, medicine

Xinhua, October 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

China's Tu Youyou, Irish-born William Campbell and Japan's Satoshi Omura jointly won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, the Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Karolinska Institute announced Monday.

Tu won half of the prize "for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria", while Campbell and Omura were jointly awarded the other half of the prize "for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites," said the assembly.

According to the statement, Tu discovered Artemisinin, a drug that has significantly reduced the mortality rates for patients suffering from Malaria.

William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura 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.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua after the announcement, Juleen R. Zierath, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, told Xinhua that Tu's "inspiration from traditional Chinese medicine" was important.

"But what was really critical was that Tu Youyou identified the active agent in that plant extract," said Zierath, adding "there was a lot of modern chemistry, bio-chemistry attached to this to bring forward this new drug."

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, the statement said.

Malaria infects close to 200 million individuals yearly. Artemisinin is used in all Malaria-ridden parts of the world. When used in combination therapy, it is estimated to reduce mortality from Malaria by more than 20 percent overall and by more than 30 percent in children.

The Avermectin-derivative Ivermectin today is used in all parts of the world that are plagued by parasitic diseases. Ivermectin is highly effective against a range of parasites, has limited side effects and is freely available across the globe, the statement said.

The discovery of the three, the statement said, "have transformed the treatment of parasitic diseases. The global impact of their discoveries and the resulting benefit to mankind are immeasurable."

Tu, born in 1930, graduated from the Pharmacy Department at Beijing Medical University in 1955, and is Chief Professor at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Campbell was born in 1930 in Ireland. He is currently a Research Fellow Emeritus at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, the United States.

Omura, born in 1935 in Japan, is a Japanese Citizen. He is Professor Emeritus at Kitasato University.

This year's prize is 8 million Swedish Krona (about 0.96 million U.S. dollars). Endit