DHAKA: Three scientists from Ireland, Japan and China won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for discoveries that helped doctors fight malaria and infections caused by roundworm parasites.

The Nobel judges in Stockholm awarded the prestigious prize to Irish-born William Campbell (Prize share: 1/4), Satoshi Omura (Prize share: 1/4) of Japan and Tu Youyou (Prize share: 1/2) — the first ever Chinese medicine laureate, reports cbc.ca.

Campbell and Omura were cited for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites, while Tu was rewarded for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria.

‘The two discoveries have provided humankind with powerful new means to combat these debilitating diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people annually,’ the committee said.

‘The consequences in terms of improved human health and reduced suffering are immensurable.’

The medicine award was the first Nobel Prize to be announced.

The winners of the physics, chemistry and peace prizes are set to be announced later this week. The economics prize will be announced next Monday.

No date has been set yet for the literature prize, but it is expected to be announced on Thursday.

BDST: 1557 HRS, OCT 05, 2015
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