Joel Habener Wins 2025 Breakthrough Prize for GLP-1 Discovery

🏆 A Landmark Achievement in Life Sciences

In 2025, Dr. Joel Habener of Harvard Medical School received the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his pioneering work on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone has revolutionized the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and multiple cardiometabolic diseases, such as heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

🔬 What is GLP-1?

GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the gut in response to food intake. It plays a key role in:

Stimulating insulin secretion when blood sugar levels are high
Suppressing glucagon (a hormone that increases blood sugar)
Slowing gastric emptying, helping you feel full longer
Reducing appetite, which aids in weight loss

Dr. Habener’s discovery of how GLP-1 functions has opened the door to new therapeutic drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide), used globally to control:

🔵 Type 2 Diabetes
🟢 Obesity
🟠 Heart Failure
🟣 Chronic Kidney Disease

💊 GLP-1 Drugs: A New Era in Medicine

GLP-1 receptor agonists are now blockbuster treatments:

Semaglutide (branded as Ozempic, Wegovy) has shown exceptional results in blood sugar control, weight reduction, and cardiovascular protection.
Patients experience 10–15% weight loss — something previously unachievable with medications alone.
GLP-1 therapies reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage, improving long-term survival.

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Joel Habener’s Impact

Dr. Habener’s research, which began in the 1970s, was critical in:

Identifying the role of proglucagon (the precursor to GLP-1)
Mapping how GLP-1 is synthesized in the body
Enabling the development of targeted GLP-1 therapies

His lifelong dedication to endocrine science has helped millions globally.

📊 Infographic Overview

The 2025 Breakthrough Prize celebrates the complementary roles of the five recipients:

Joel Habener: Habener’s early work identified GLP-1 within the glucagon gene. He demonstrated that GLP-1 is released from gut cells in response to food intake and enhances insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. His discoveries suggested that boosting GLP-1 activity could be a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders.
Svetlana Mojsov: A chemist at The Rockefeller University, Mojsov identified the physiologically active form of GLP-1 (known as GLP-1 (7-37)) and developed innovative methods to synthesize it. Her collaboration with Habener confirmed GLP-1’s insulin-stimulating properties, a critical step toward its clinical application.
Daniel Drucker: As a postdoctoral fellow in Habener’s lab and later a researcher at the University of Toronto, Drucker expanded the understanding of GLP-1’s broader effects. He showed that it influences not just the pancreas but also the brain, heart, gut, and immune system, revealing its potential beyond diabetes treatment.
Jens Juul Holst: Working independently at the University of Copenhagen, Holst confirmed GLP-1’s role as an incretin in pigs and humans. He also discovered that it slows gastric emptying and suppresses appetite, key mechanisms that contribute to weight loss.
Lotte Bjerre Knudsen: At Novo Nordisk, Knudsen translated these biological insights into practical therapies. She led the development of GLP-1-based drugs like liraglutide and semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy), overcoming challenges like the hormone’s short half-life in the body by modifying its structure for longer-lasting effects.

Impact on Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

The development of GLP-1 receptor agonists—drugs that mimic GLP-1’s actions—has transformed the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. These conditions affect millions globally: over 460 million people have type 2 diabetes, and more than 1 billion live with obesity. GLP-1 drugs work by:

Increasing insulin release to lower blood sugar.
Reducing glucagon secretion to prevent excess glucose production.
Slowing gastric emptying to enhance satiety and reduce food intake.
Acting on the brain to suppress appetite.

Clinical trials have shown remarkable results. For example, semaglutide has led to significant weight loss (up to 20% of body weight in some patients) and improved blood sugar control. As of 2024, approximately 12% of U.S. adults have used a GLP-1 medication, reflecting their widespread adoption.

Beyond Diabetes and Obesity: Cardiometabolic Benefits

Recent research has uncovered GLP-1’s broader therapeutic potential. Studies suggest these drugs can:

Reduce cardiovascular risks: Trials show a 20% lower risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Improve heart failure: Patients with obesity and heart failure report better heart function after a year on semaglutide.
Protect kidney health: GLP-1 therapies reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients.
Address fatty liver disease: Emerging evidence indicates benefits for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a common obesity-related condition.

These findings have sparked a new field of research into GLP-1’s mechanisms, including its anti-inflammatory effects, which may underlie some of these benefits.

Why This is Matter

The work of Habener and his colleagues exemplifies the power of basic science translating into life-changing therapies. Their discoveries have not only alleviated suffering for millions but also shifted societal perceptions of obesity from a matter of willpower to a treatable chronic illness rooted in biology. As research continues, GLP-1 drugs are being explored for conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and addiction, hinting at an even broader impact in the future.