Svetlana Moiseev emerges as top Nobel candidate for GLP-1 work
The researcher behind the discovery of GLP-1 is being highlighted as a leading contender for the Nobel Prize. This recognition would acknowledge a class of drugs now considered among the most disruptive medical advancements in decades.
Svetlana Moiseev is being identified as a strong candidate for the next Nobel Prize due to her foundational work on discovering and characterizing GLP-1. This research underpins the development of weight loss and diabetes medications such as Ozempic, Monjaro, and Vegovi. These therapies are described as potentially the most disruptive medical advancement in the last 50 years, with effects extending beyond weight management to reducing inflammation. Some observers suggest the drugs may also lower breast cancer risk in women, though this specific claim remains anecdotal.
The speculation is bolstered by the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list, a metric that has previously correctly predicted winners such as Navi Pillay in Peace and Anne Carson in Literature. The 2025 edition of the list included 6,868 persons holding 7,131 awards from over 1,300 institutions across 60 countries. The list highlights a persistent gender gap in scientific recognition, with female representation at approximately 14%. This figure is lower than the 17.5% share of Nobel laureates in the last ten years, which comprised 21 women out of 120 total recipients. This discrepancy suggests that the underrepresentation of women in science exists prior to the award selection process, rather than being a result of bias in the Nobel committee itself. Moiseev’s potential nomination would mark a significant acknowledgment of the transformative impact of GLP-1 research on public health and longevity.