Prognosis
Scientists Win Nobel for Key Discoveries in Fighting Cancer
- Allison, Honjo inspired work to release immune-system brakes
- U.S. scientist’s work led to development of Bristol’s Yervoy
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Two scientists won the Nobel Prize for discoveries that paved the way for revolutionary cancer treatments from Merck & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and other drugmakers.
James Allison of the U.S. realized the potential of releasing a brake on the immune system while working at the University of California at Berkeley in the 1990s and developed a new approach to treat patients with cancer. Tasuku Honjo of Japan discovered a protein called PD-1 that’s also targeted by new drugs. The two men will share the prize in medicine, the Nobel Assembly said Monday in Stockholm.