The Nobel Prize Nobody in China Wanted to Share

Malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases in human history, heavily impacted mankind, claiming the lives of thousands of people. Chloroquine, which was the standard treatment for malaria till the 1950s, witnessed a sharp fall as patients remained infected and even relapsed after getting treated with chloroquine.

It has been known that chloroquine failed to kill the parasite entirely as it underwent genetic mutations before fully eliminating it. But soon, a remarkable innovation occurred with the invention of a compound called artemisinin by a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist To Youyou.

The compound artemisinin was first discovered by Tu Youyou. Unlike other scientists, who relied on modern techniques to find a cure, she, on the other hand, studied centuries-old Chinese medical texts to find an effective remedy.

Back in those centuries, malaria was a major health issue and affected many people. Coming from a family that heavily emphasised education, To Youyou, unfortunately, had to take a break from studies for two whole years as she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This struck a chord, and it was then that To Youyou decided to take up medicine and find out possible solutions to these life-threatening diseases.

Determined to combat malaria, To Youyou chose medicine in her higher studies and even eventually took admission in Beijing Medical College. She pursued the course of Pharmacology and worked with different chemical compounds and medicinal plants. After graduating from Beijing Medical College, she joined the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and fully focused her research on traditional Chinese texts.

Before the discovery of artemisinin, chloroquine was heavily used to treat malaria. But soon this drug failed to serve its purpose after the malaria parasite developed resistance to it. Moreover, in 1975, the Vietnam War had begun, and many soldiers of North Vietnam were dying due to it. In such a situation, North Vietnam President Ho Chi Minh asked for assistance from China Premier Zhou Enlai to find a cure for chloroquine-resistant malaria.

In response to this, Zhou Enlai recommended that Mao Zedong pay serious attention to this issue. Following this, Mao Zedong launched Project 52 on 23rd May 1967, from which it derives its name. It is a secret Chinese military research program to develop chloroquine-resistant malaria treatments and also to save the soldiers who were fighting in the war. Many scientists and medical institutions formed a crucial part of this project. To Youyou was appointed the head of this project in the year 1969.

To Youyou played a vital role in this project along with her team in researching various medicines and conducting experiments. She thoroughly researched the ancient Chinese Texts. To understand the real impact of malaria firsthand, To Youyou travelled to Hainan Island, where she witnessed the deadly effects of the disease.

To Youyou and her team tested thousands of potential compounds. After extensive research, they found a reference to sweet wormwood mentioned in the traditional Chinese medical texts. The text stated that sweet wormwood, a herb native to Asia, was used to treat one of the most common symptoms of malaria, i.e. periodic fevers.

She largely began experimenting with the wormwood for possible medicinal properties. She applied various methods to test the compound, but initial results failed. Later, she tested the herb at a lower temperature and used an ether-based solvent to extract the ingredient. This new extract, named Artemisinin, was tested on monkeys and even upon themselves, and it was found to be effective. Finally, this was supplied to the malaria patients of Hainan Province, and all of them significantly regained their health.

It was not until much later that her work was publicised. It was known to the Chinese only as it was considered a part of the Chinese military program. Moreover, due to limited publishing opportunities, it did not reach global acclaim.

However, it achieved international recognition in 2001, when the World Health Organisation officially approved the use of Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in treating malaria.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) were the first to ever receive the Lasker Award in 2011. Tu Youyou was also awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in the ysame ear, 2Tu5 for one of the greatest inventions in medical history.

Eventually, artemisinin was found to have great success due to its high effectiveness and rapid action. The global malaria death rate was reduced significantly by almost 47% in the 2000s. Randomised controlled trials of Adecreased overallrall. Since then, artemisinin treatment courses have been delivered worldwide.

To Youyou’s achievement remains remarkable as she made such a profound discovery despite having no PhD or any formal degree. In 2019, she was honoured with the highest honorary medal of China, the Medal of the Republic.

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