Kagan and Soai win 2026 Nobel chemistry prize for single molecular mirror creation
Reuters • • general
Key Points:
- Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering how to produce a single molecular mirror image, a breakthrough with significant implications for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- The prize recognizes foundational work on "homochirality," explaining why living organisms predominantly use one molecular mirror image despite molecules existing in two forms.
- This discovery helps chemists design reactions that favor the therapeutically effective mirror image of drug molecules, reducing harmful side effects caused by the other variant.
- The Nobel Prizes, established by Alfred Nobel's will in 1901, honor achievements in science, literature, and peace, with the chemistry prize being the third announced during Nobel week.
- Kagan and Soai will receive their medals from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf on December 10 in Stockholm, sharing a monetary award of 12 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.2 million).
