This is a Scientific Americans 60 Second Science. I'm Steve Mursky. Got a minute?

The Nobel Assembly at the Carolinska Institute has today awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine.

We won half jointly to William C. Campbell and Satoshi U-Mura

for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites.

And the other have to, Yoo-U-U-U-2, for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria.

Urban Lindahl of the Nobel Committee shortly after 5.30 this morning, Eastern Time.

Campbell is affiliated with Drew University in New Jersey.

O'Mora is at Japan's Kitisato University.

Their work developed the drug Avarmectin

and later the closely related drug Ivermectin,

the medications have led to the near eradication of the roundworm caused diseases

river blindness and lymphatic phyllariasis, also known as elephantiasis.

UU2 is with the Academy of Chinese Medicine.

Her studies led to the creation of the drug Artemissinin,

which has lowered mortality rates from malaria.

About half the world's population have been living with the threat of these infections.

Both types of drugs are examples of natural products chemistry, that is the efficacious compounds

were isolated from organisms that naturally produce them or similar molecules and had exhibited

therapeutic potential in screenings.

The impact of Arimectin and Artemisinin was far beyond reducing the disease burden of individuals.

Hans Forsberg of the Nobel Committee.

By allowing children to go to school and adults to go to work, the treatment helps them to escape poverty, which also

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