3 Scientists Win Nobel Prize For Hepatitis C Virus Discovery

By Mark Katkov,

Rob Stein

Published October 5, 2020 at 6:13 AM EDT

A Nobel Prize gold medal seen during the manufacturing process in the Swedish Mint. The medals, presented to each laureate, are made of 18 karat recycled gold and weigh 175 grams (6.13 ounces). The Economics medal weighs 185 grams (6.48 ounces).

The scientists' work led to a test to protect blood transfusion recipients from hepatitis C and drugs to treat the infection that have saved millions of lives, according to the Nobel Assembly.

Harvey Alter of the National Institutes of Health, Michael Houghton of the University of Alberta and Charles Rice of Rockefeller University were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The 2020 Nobel Prizes bring a cash award of 10 million Swedish krona ($1.12 million), which is shared if more than one laureate is named.

As is customary, the announcement was made in Stockholm. The Nobels in physics, chemistry, literature and peace will be awarded this week, and the prize in economics will be awarded next Monday.

Corrected: October 7, 2020 at 12:00 AM EDT

A previous version of this story said that Hepatitis C is transmitted through contaminated water. It is not transmitted through water, but through bodily fluids, including blood.