Svetlana Mojsov's GLP-1 Discovery: Impact on Diabetes and Obesity Treatment

Award Recognition & Early Research

• 🏆 Svetlana Mojsov received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for her contribution to the discovery of GLP-1.
• 🔬 Her interest in peptides regulating glucose metabolism and peptide-based therapeutics for diabetes began in the mid-1970s at Rockefeller University with Professor Bruce Merrifield.
• 🧪 She worked on solid-phase synthesis of glucagon analogs, devising alternative strategies to overcome challenges with chemical modifications.

The Discovery of GLP-1

• 💡 Mojsov's knowledge of glucagon biology led to her discovery of GLP-1 in the early 1980s at Massachusetts General Hospital.
• 🧬 In 1983, she identified the biologically active sequence GLP-1(7-37), a 31 amino acid long peptide.
• 🧠 She predicted GLP-1(7-37) would function as an incretin, stimulating insulin release from the pancreas in response to a meal.
• 🛠️ She developed specific methods, including antibodies and radioimmunoassays, to detect GLP-1(7-37) in the intestine.

Proving Therapeutic Potential

• ✅ Collaborative studies with Dr. Gordon Weir established that GLP-1(7-37) stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release, confirming its role as the long-sought incretin.
• 🏥 Clinical studies with Dr. David Nathan were the first to report that GLP-1(7-37) stimulates insulin and lowers blood glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes, demonstrating its therapeutic potential.
• 🧠 Later, with Yang Wei, she showed GLP-1 receptors are expressed in the pancreas, brain, heart, and kidney, suggesting a single receptor regulates its effects across multiple organs.

Broad Impact of GLP-1 Medicines

• 🚀 Pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Lilly developed long-lasting GLP-1 analogues, representing a significant advancement 25 years after her initial publications.
• 💊 These GLP-1 medicines are unique as a single treatment for multiple disorders, including diabetes and obesity.
• ✨ They offer beneficial effects on the heart and kidney, with ongoing evaluation for potential use in neurodegenerative diseases and addiction.
• 📈 GLP-1 drugs have game-changing benefits: stimulating insulin only when blood sugar is high (reducing hypoglycemia risk), promoting weight loss, and improving overall prognosis for patients.