Professor Jens Juul Holst from the University of Copenhagen has, through his ground-breaking discoveries of the gut hormones GLP-1 and GLP-2, created a global paradigm shift in the treatment of two of the world’s greatest health challenges: diabetes and obesity.
His research into how the body regulates appetite and metabolism led to the development of an entirely new class of medicines that are now used by millions of people worldwide. GLP-1–based therapies improve blood sugar control, insulin production and weight loss – and for many patients, they have meant a significantly improved quality of life.
The discovery has not only had enormous health implications – it has also created an economic impact unparalleled in the history of Danish research. Major pharmaceutical companies such as Novo Nordisk have built billion-dollar businesses on Holst’s scientific breakthroughs.
Worldwide impact
But Holst’s commitment does not stop in the laboratory. In 2018, he took a bold step as a scientist-entrepreneur and helped found Antag Therapeutics – a biotech company developing the next generation of treatments for obesity and metabolic diseases. Instead of stimulating appetite regulation, Antag works to block the GIP receptor, which plays a central role in fat storage and insulin resistance. Their most advanced drug candidate is now the first in the world to clinically test this mechanism.
In 2024, the company raised 600 million DKK in investments – a strong signal of international confidence in the technology and its potential.