Jens Juul Holst on the discovery of GLP-1: – It worked, and that was the sensation
Decades after discovering the hormone behind medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, Professor Jens Juul Holst is set to receive the EASD Diabetes Global Impact Prize.
Four decades ago, Professor Jens Juul Holst laid the foundation for a global medical revolution.
This October, the University of Copenhagen professor will receive the 2026 EASD Diabetes Global Impact Prize in Milan for his remarkable contributions to diabetes research.
At his office at the University of Copenhagen, he still works at 81 years old. Holst is also affiliated with Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research.
Holst discovered the gut hormone GLP-1 in 1986. By mimicking natural satiety, GLP-1 limits food intake and regulates blood sugar levels. This effect has later enabled medications like the Danish company Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy.
It was not until 1993, alongside German researcher Michael Nauck, that GLP-1 was first tested in human clinical trials.
“At last, we tried it against all expectations, but we tried it, and it worked”, Holst recalls.
“And that was the sensation”.
Today, GLP-1 therapies are transforming how we treat obesity and type 2 diabetes worldwide. While injectables dominate, new oral pills are now emerging in major markets. In Europe the weight loss pill is available in the UK, and it was recently introduced in Germany.
Amid ongoing discussions regarding long-term use, Holst remains convinced of their potential when paired with sustained lifestyle changes.
Holst describes the award as "a recognition from colleagues, which is fantastic”. He will deliver his prize lecture on October 2nd at the EASD annual meeting in Milan, Italy.
