This morning, the Nobel Reward committee awarded the 2018 Nobel Reward in physiology or medication to two researchers who, independently, discovered proteins that “brake” the body immune system– work that paved the method for what the committee calls “a totally new principle for cancer treatment.” The winners are approved this method to treat metastatic cancer malignancy. Three years later on, the FDA approved Keytruda and Opdivo, 2 treatments for melanoma that were based on Honjo’s work. The Nobel citation keeps in mind that a combination therapy targeting both proteins could work even better.
Dr. Allison, 70, is the chairman of immunology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer. Dr. Honjo, 76, is a long time teacher at Kyoto University. The 2 will share the approximately $1.01 million cash prize.
