Weight-loss drugs, sleep and DNA: The science in the running for the Chemistry Nobel
Stockholm: Research into molecules linked to sleep and appetite, precision gene editing and advances in DNA sequencing are among the fields tipped by commentators for this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is scheduled to announce the 2026 Chemistry laureate or laureates in Stockholm at 11.45 am local time (9.45 am GMT) on Wednesday.
Last year, the Chemistry Nobel was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa of Japan, UK-born Richard Robson and US-based Omar Yaghi for their work on the development of metal-organic frameworks, which allow molecular structures to be designed and constructed.
GLP-1 research in the spotlight
Research into glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), the hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, could still feature in the Chemistry Nobel after missing out on the Medicine prize.
Data analytics firm Clarivate had identified GLP-1 research as a contender for Monday's Medicine Nobel, which was instead awarded to neuroscientists. However, David Pendlebury, who leads research analysis at Clarivate, said the work could still be recognised in Chemistry.
GLP-1 is also the basis of widely used weight-loss medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Among the scientists frequently mentioned in connection with the research are Canadian endocrinologist Daniel Drucker, Danish physician Jens Juul Holst and Yugoslav-born US chemist Svetlana Mojsov.
Gene editing and DNA research
Clarivate has also highlighted the development of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), molecular-scale coatings that can be used to modify the properties of surfaces. US chemists David Allara and Ralph Nuzzo, along with Israeli chemist Jacob Sagiv, are among those tipped for the work.
Another potential area is the study of how electrons move through proteins. US scientists Harry Gray and Jay Winkler have been recognised for advancing understanding in this field.
Precision gene editing is another major contender. US chemist and biologist David Liu has been highlighted for developing technologies that allow DNA to be directly edited in living cells.
"The ability to change a DNA sequence of our choosing into a new sequence of our choosing is a fundamentally very powerful capability," Liu told AFP in 2025.
Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Radio science editor Lars Brostrom also identified Liu as a possible winner, while pointing to British chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman for their contributions to next-generation DNA sequencing.
Sleep research among contenders
Research into the brain's sleep-regulating system could also receive recognition.
French-born sleep researcher Emmanuel Mignot and Japanese-American biologist Masashi Yanagisawa are among those mentioned for their work on orexin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating sleep and wakefulness.
Spanish-American scientist Luis de Lecea, who also contributed to the discovery of the orexin system, could potentially share the prize with them.
Other scientists mentioned in Nobel speculation include German-born Swiss chemist Michael Grätzel for work on solar cells, French battery researcher Jean-Marie Tarascon, Taiwanese-American biochemist Chi-Huey Wong for advances in carbohydrate and glycoprotein synthesis, and US chemical engineer Robert Langer for his work in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
The Chemistry prize follows Tuesday's Physics Nobel, which was awarded to Belgian physicist Francis Halzen for launching the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos from outer space.
The Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced on Thursday, followed by the Peace Prize on Friday. The Economics prize will bring the 2026 Nobel season to a close on October 12.
Each Nobel Prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a prize of 12 million Swedish kronor (around $1.2 million), which is shared when there is more than one laureate.
AFP