Nobel Chemistry Prize Speculation Turns to Gene Editing and Metabolism

Predictions center heavily on the development of GLP-1, the hunger-regulating hormone behind blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro. While the medicine category recently bypassed this field, analysts suggest the chemistry prize could recognize endocrinologist Daniel Drucker, physician Jens Juul Holst, and chemist Svetlana Mojsov for their foundational work. Precision gene editing, specifically the ability to resequence DNA within living systems, remains another high-profile area, with David Liu frequently cited as a primary contender for his innovative molecular techniques.

Beyond medicine and genetics, experts point to advances in material science and cellular processes. The development of self-assembled monolayers, pioneered by David Allara, Ralph Nuzzo, and Jacob Sagiv, offers a method to customize surface properties at the molecular level. Additionally, the work of sleep researchers Emmanuel Mignot and Masashi Yanagisawa regarding the neurotransmitter orexin, alongside contributions to DNA sequencing by Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman, continue to circulate in Stockholm’s pre-announcement discussions. The winner will be unveiled at 11:45 am in Stockholm, following the recent physics prize awarded to Francis Halzen for his work on high-energy neutrinos.