2024 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research

Semaglutide produces a notable reduction in appetite, which has significantly contributed to the success of Ozempic, one of the drugs produced with this active ingredient. Science magazine (Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities 2007) designated these anti-obesity drugs as the greatest scientific advance of 2023. Drucker, Habener, Holst and Mojsov share the recognition of having initiated and developed this research since the 1970s.

For his part, Friedman discovered another hormone in 1994, leptin, which is generated in fat cells, or adipocytes, and acts on the brain region that controls appetite.