Award for Lars Lannfelt, Who Paved the Way for the Alzheimer’s Drug “Lecanemab”

Swedish scientist receives “Hartwig Piepenbrock-DZNE Prize”

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.”