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Endocrinologist Daniel Drucker is part of a team of researchers recognized by Time magazine for their roles in advancing next-generation treatments for diabetes and weight loss.

Drucker, a senior investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, and a  in the department of medicine at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, shares a spot on  with Joel Habener of Harvard University and Svetlana Mojsov of Rockefeller University.

The scientists were honoured for their contributions to the development of a new class of drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, based on their discoveries about gut hormones known as glucagon-like peptides.

These medications, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, help manage blood sugar levels by boosting insulin production and reducing the liver’s release of sugar.

“Drucker’s experiments pinpointed the specific parts of GLP-1 responsible for affecting insulin levels,” the magazine said. “Now GLP-1-based medications are approved in the U.S. to treat diabetes and obesity, and to reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Drucker, who has been recognized with a Gairdner International Award and Wolf Prize for his work, is currently exploring other potential health benefits, including reducing inflammation in chronic metabolic diseases.