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This year’s “Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize”, endowed with 60,000 euros, goes to Swedish medical scientist Lars Lannfelt for his pioneering contributions to the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and to the development of the drug “Lecanemab”. This medicine, used to treat Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is the first disease-modifying drug of its kind in the European Union. Lannfelt is professor emeritus at Uppsala University and co-founder of the pharmaceutical company BioArctic. The prize is presented jointly by DZNE and the Piepenbrock Group. The award ceremony will take place in Bonn this November.
“Lars Lannfelt has provided key insights into the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, and has also played a decisive role in developing Lecanemab. This drug targets a central cause of the disease and can slow its progression when administered in the early stages. This is a significant advance in the treatment of Alzheimer’s,” says Professor Gabor Petzold, interim chairman of DZNE’s executive board. “With conventional therapies, we could only alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Now, thanks to Lars Lannfelt’s research, we can also tackle the disease at one of its roots. Lannfelt has opened up new possibilities for treatment. He is a true pioneer in Alzheimer’s research.”
“We award the Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize not only for outstanding research – we are also sending a message for more awareness, more understanding, and more commitment in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases,” says Olaf Piepenbrock, managing partner of the Piepenbrock Group. “I am impressed by how courageously and persistently science is breaking new ground. This work deserves the highest recognition and broad support. Every research breakthrough brings hope to the millions of people affected by disease and their families.”
About the laureate: Lars Lannfelt was born in 1949 and is a Swedish national. He studied medicine specializing in psychiatry and geriatrics. Lannfelt worked at the Karolinska Institute and later at Uppsala University, where he is now professor emeritus. He is a member of the board of directors of the pharmaceutical company BioArctic, which he co-founded in 2003. Since 2004 he is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. In the early 1990s and 2000s, he discovered two genetic anomalies (now known as the “Swedish mutation” and the “Arctic mutation”) that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Both genetic defects affect amyloid proteins, which are generated naturally in the human body. Lannfelt’s research provided evidence that soluble aggregates of amyloid molecules play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease. Based on this, the antibody “Lecanemab” was developed to target these harmful proteins. Clinical trials have shown that the related drug, developed by BioArctic in collaboration with a Japanese company, Eisai, can delay the progression of the disease. In April 2025, it was authorized for use in the European Union for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Preparations are currently underway for the practical implementation of this treatment. This is the first time a drug targeting a key cause of Alzheimer’s becomes available in Europe.
• Interview with Lars Lannfelt (PharmaBoardroom): https://pharmaboardroom.com/interviews/lars-lannfelt-co-founder-board-member-bio...
About the “Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize”: Since 2011, the “Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize” has been awarded every two years for outstanding research on neurodegenerative disorders. These diseases, which include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are characterized by dysfunctions and death of neurons. This can lead to dementia, movement disorders or other severe health problems. The prize is sponsored by the Piepenbrock Group and awarded in remembrance of its former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Hartwig Piepenbrock, who passed away after suffering from dementia. He was committed to the arts, science, and society for many years. Prize winners are selected by an international committee, coordinated by DZNE. On this occasion, the prize will be awarded for the eighth time.
About Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases): DZNE is one of the world’s leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, which are associated with dementia, movement disorders and other serious health impairments. These diseases place an enormous burden on patients and their families, but also on society and the economy of healthcare. DZNE contributes significantly to the development and translation into practice of novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment. DZNE comprises ten sites across Germany and collaborates with universities, university hospitals, research centers and other institutions in Germany and throughout the world. DZNE is state-funded and a member of the Helmholtz Association and of the German Centers for Health Research. https://www.dzne.de/en
About the Piepenbrock Group: The Piepenbrock Group has represented professional building services since 1913. Managed by the fourth generation of owners, Piepenbrock today offers a broad spectrum of services in Facility Management, Cleaning Services, Building Technology, Maintenance and Security. Piepenbrock is also one of Germany’s leading providers of special services, which includes clean room cleaning, winter services and park maintenance. Quality and sustainability are two important aspects that ensure the company remains at the top of its game. https://www.piepenbrock.de/en/
https://www.dzne.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/presse/auszeichnung-fuer-lars-l... German version of this press release
https://www.dzne.de/en/news/background/alzheimers-disease/ About Alzheimer's disease
https://www.dzne.de/en/news/prizes-and-awards/hartwig-piepenbrock-dzne-prize/ Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize
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