Nobel prize in medicine goes to 3 pioneers in parasitic diseases

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 has been awarded jointly to William C Campbell and Satoshi Omura 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.

This year's Nobel Laureates have developed therapies that have revolutionised the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases.

Campbell and  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.

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.