Prof. Adriaan Ijzerman
Leiden University, The Netherlands

For his leading contributions as a pioneer of GPCR drug discovery and structural biology, and his support of the medicinal chemistry and chemical biology community. His research led to over 450 publications, many of them achieving high international visibility. An excellent mentor and lecturer, Ad IJzerman played an active role in the International LACDR School on Medicinal Chemistry. He also chaired the medicinal chemistry division of the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society, organized many scientific symposia, and led several international research networks.

Prof. Christa Müller
University of Bonn, Germany

For her extensive contribution to the field of adenosine and purinergic receptors, from the design of novel ligands to the study of their therapeutic potential, and for her support of the European Medicinal Chemistry community. Dr. Müller is a highly cited scientist who has developed a number of tool compounds now used by many labs around the world. She has set up numerous international collaborations, and is a co-founder of the Pharmacenter in Bonn. Her noted contributions to the Medicinal Chemistry community include continued editorial and advisory duties, educational initiatives, and the organization of international conferences.

Prof. François Diederich
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

For his outstanding contributions to the science of medicinal chemistry. Prof. François Diederich made essential contributions to the fundamental understanding of non-bonding interactions involved in molecular recognition and their application in modern drug design. His scientific work is documented in more than 700 publications and beautifully describes interactions such as sulfur-aromatics, cation-Pi, fluorine interactions and halogen bonding that are actively used by many scientists around the world in the discovery of novel drugs.

Prof. Paul Leeson
GlaxoSmithKline, United Kingdom

Dr. Leeson is particularly recognized throughout the field of medicinal chemistry for his leading work on the importance of ‘drug-like’ physicochemical properties and their relationship to drug candidate survival in development. Paul has published extensively on this theme and his work has had a profound influence on the practices of medicinal chemists across the globe. Dr. Leeson’s career in the pharmaceutical industry has spanned over 35 years, where he has worked at Smith Kline and French Research Laboratories, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Wyeth (USA), and AstraZeneca. He has published more than 150 papers, patents and book chapters, and has led drug discovery efforts in the cardiovascular, neuroscience, inflammation and respiratory therapy areas.

Professor Alexander Levitzki
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

By awarding the NAUTA prize, the EFMC acknowledges and recognizes outstanding achievements in the advancement of Medicinal Chemistry and the development of international organizational structures in Medicinal Chemistry.
Prof. Levitzki’s research focuses on cell signaling pathways with a special emphasis on the role of tyrosine kinases. He has pioneered the therapeutic concept that tyrosine kinase function can be selectively modulated by small molecule inhibitors, in face of worldwide skepticism whether sufficient selectivity can be obtained. His research opened new territory leading to a number of novel key therapeutic approaches with significant impact in medicinal chemistry, drug development, and advancement of human health care.
Alexander Levitzki has been the early pioneer in the field of kinase inhibition and antitumor therapy with his work being documented in more than 350 publications. The development and launch of several Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibition-based cancer therapies highlights the impact Alexander Levitzki’s creative and innovative research has had on medicinal chemistry and industrial R&D with successful drugs already on or coming to the market.

Prof. Camille George Wermuth
University Louis Pasteur Strasbourg and Prestwick Chemicals, France

For his significant contribution to the science of medicinal chemistry, both by scientific achievements and by educational activities. Prof. Wermuth contributed to the development of three marketed drugs and the results of his work are documented in more than 250 publications and 60 patents. He has also significantly contributed to the advancement of education in medicinal chemistry by his famous textbook “The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry”. This award also recognises the engagement of Prof. Wermuth in promoting Medicinal Chemistry in Europe by organizing several symposia and through his active role in learned societies.

Prof. Hugo Kubinyi, BASF SE and University of Heidelberg, Germany
Winner of the 2008 Nauta Award for Pharmacochemistry

This award recognises Professor Kubinyi’s contributions in the development, application and dissemination of the rational drug discovery in medicinal chemistry. The results achieved by Prof. Kubinyi are documented in more then 100 publications and seven books that have been particularly instrumental in providing excellent handbooks for newcomers and experienced practitioners to the fields of medicinal chemistry. The development and launch into the market of Meproscillarin (CLIFT), a partially synthetic cardiac glycoside, provides a powerful example of the success achieved by Prof. Kubinyi as medicinal chemist.

Prof. Philip Portoghese, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, USA
Winner of the 2006 Nauta Award for Pharmacochemistry

Professor Portoghese receives this award for his many contributions to the field of GPCR science which have led to greater understanding of the way in which these receptors function. He is also recognised for his huge contribution to the scientific community as editor-in-chief of The Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

The Nauta Award 2004 for Prof. C. Robin Ganellin, University College London

On the basis of his impressive career in both industry, academia and scientific organisations, as well as for his efforts to internationally promote Medicinal Chemistry as a chemical discipline. His key contribution to the discovery of histamine antagonists as a novel class of antiulcer drugs with a major impact to health, was highly appreciated.

The Nauta Award 2002 for Bernard Testa (Université de Lausanne, Switzerland)

The prize was given for the numerous and excellent contributions of the winner to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences and medicinal chemistry in particular, both as teacher and as researcher. The jury especially mentioned his achievements in understanding the role of physiochemical properties in drug activity, more precisely in the disposition of medicines. Prof.Testa received his prize at the ISMC in Barcelona, Spain, September 2002.