Tang for Biopharmaceutical Science: Allison and Honjo
The first Tang Prize for biopharmaceutical science is being shared by James P. Allison of the University of Texas and Tasuku Honjo of Kyoto University. Allison discovered the protein receptor CTLA-4, which inhibits the activation of T cells, and Honjo discovered another inhibitory receptor, PD-1. Their findings paved the way for research into a new method to combat the growth of tumors: immune checkpoint blockade. Trials have proven that these techniques are effective in combating cancer. Drugs for use in related treatment regimens have already been developed.
Allison, 66, is chair of immunology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on immunology and cancer.
In 1995 he and another scientist discovered “cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4” (CTLA-4). Moreover, his team was the first to prove that CTLA-4 downregulates T cells’ immune response. It was a key discovery about regulation of the immune system. Allison developed a new way to treat cancer by blocking molecules on immune-system T cells that turn off immune response.
Tasuku Honjo, 72, is a professor of immunology and genomic medicine at Kyoto University. In 1992 Honjo discovered the second immune checkpoint on T cells, called PD-1. In clinical trials, cancer treatment drugs that block PD-1 have shown great promise.
Allison won the Economist Innovation Award for Bioscience last year. When Allison was a child, his mother died of cancer. That spurred his interest in studying disease. Nevertheless, there were at first doubts about the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. It is only in recent years that the import of his research has been fully grasped. He is extremely gratified that it can benefit many with cancer.
Honjo discovered PD-1 20 years ago, but it is only in the last decade that he has successfully confirmed the function of PD-1 molecules. He didn’t originally anticipate that the discovery would lead to an effective method for treating cancer. Today cancer immunotherapy has entered the mainstream of pharmaceutical research. Smiling, Honjo said: “There’s true joy in a dream being realized.”
Inspired by the double helix of DNA and images of dragons, the Tang Prize medal was designed by Naoto Fukasawa.