Friedrich-Stolz Award from the GDCh Division of Medicinal Chemistry

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At the Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2026 Conference in Münster, the Tubulis team of Dr. Jonas Helma-Smets, Dr. Marc-André Kasper and Dr. Annette Vogl, as well as Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger, were awarded the Friedrich Stolz Prize 2026 in recognition of their outstanding research contributions that led to the development of antibody-drug conjugates with P5 conjugation, and the Hernexeos/Zongertinib team led by Dr. Birgit Wilding was awarded the Friedrich-Stolz Award in recognition of their outstanding research contributions that led to the development of zongertinib.

Tubulis team: "The team of Dr. Vogl, Dr. Kasper, Dr. Helma-Smets, and Prof. Hackenberger pioneered P5 ethynylphosphonamidate conjugation chemistry, creating a fundamentally new ADC modality with exceptional plasma stability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor efficacy. Through elegant medicinal chemistry, they leveraged this platform to engineer NaPi2b-targeting exatecan ADCs with unprecedented linker stability, minimized off-target toxicity, and optimized molecular architecture. Their work culminated in TUB-040, an ADC demonstrating tumor regressions, a wide therapeutic window, and excellent tolerability in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients in phase 1 trials."

Dr. Birgit Wilding: "Dr. Wilding pioneered the discovery and optimization of highly selective covalent HER2 inhibitors, transforming early hits into potent lead structures with exceptional selectivity over EGFR. She led the medicinal chemistry program that delivered zongertinib, overcoming critical ADME and selectivity challenges to create a best-in-class HER2 inhibitor with broad activity across HER2 oncogenic variants. Her work culminated in outstanding clinical success: zongertinib achieved a 71% response rate with excellent tolerability in HER2-mutant NSCLC, earning global regulatory recognition and reshaping targeted therapy for HER2-driven cancers."

Prize Committee 2026: Dr. Gerhard Heßler (GDCh), Dr. Tatjana Ross (GDCh), Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer (DPhG), Prof. Dr. Christa Müller (DPhG), Dr. Gunda Georg (DPhG), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wünsch (DPhG), Dr. Franz von Nussbaum (external; Chair)

At the FiMC 2025 in Erlangen , Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer was awarded the Friedrich-Stolz Award 2025 in recognition of his lifetime scientific achievements in the field of pharmaceutical research:

"His research activities are highly translational – ranging from the identification of new target structures to their clinical application, from the laboratory to the patient. As the inventor of more than two clinical drug candidates that reached Phase Ib/II and as the founding father of TüCAT, he has made significant contributions to drug development. He has presented his research in over 700 internationally recognized and highly cited publications. Stefan Laufer is not only an outstanding scientist but also an entrepreneur who has secured funding for research projects and biotechnology companies through successful venture capital acquisition. He is exceptionally committed to the national and international scientific community – as a scientist, teacher, and lecturer. For many years, he was President of the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG) and Editor of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. Stefan Laufer scientific networks in industry and research – from Germany and the USA to Egypt and Brazil. As a teacher and mentor, he has had a lasting impact on and fostered the next generation of medicinal chemists in industry and academia."

Prize Committee 2025: Gunda Georg (DPhG), Gerhard Heßler (GDCh), Christa Müller (external/Academia),
Franz von Nussbaum (external/industry, Chair), Tatjana Ross (GDCh), Bernhard Wünsch (DPhG)

At the Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2024 Conference in Munich, the Novartis team of Christopher Adams, Rajeshri Karki, Nello Mainolfi and Stefanie Flohr were awarded the Friedrich-Stolz Award team of Dr. Oliver Schadt, Dr. Dieter Dorsch and Dr. Frank Stieber in recognition of their work on the discovery of the MET inhibitor Tepotinib.

Novartis team: "This highly active, orally bioavailable inhibitor of serine protease factor B (fB) was discovered using modern screening methods and a subsequent rigorous investigation of its structure-activity relationship. In clinical trials, it demonstrates excellent efficacy in various indications, such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a life-threatening genetic blood disorder. Further kidney diseases, such as IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), are being investigated. The team has thus performed outstanding pioneering work for a new class of targets, making their biological potential accessible to important patient groups across a range of indications."

Merck team: "The outstanding medicinal chemistry work led to the approval of Tepmetko®, the world's first inhibitor for the treatment of advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with METex14 skipping mutations. The structural starting points in this research project were identified through high-throughput screening. Using structure-assisted drug optimization, the medicinal chemistry team, led by Dr. Dieter Dorsch, Dr. Oliver Schadt, and Dr. Frank Stieber, successfully optimized the complex profile of the lead structures using multiparametric methods, leading to the identification of tepotinib as an innovative clinical investigational drug in 2009. Tepmetko® received market approval in 2019. The team's performance, resilience, and innovative strength impressively demonstrate the key role that medicinal chemistry plays in the exploration of new therapeutic options in oncology."

Prize Committee 2024: Dr. Gerhard Heßler (GDCh), Dr. Tatjana Ross (GDCh), Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer (DPhG), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wünsch (DPhG), Dr. Franz von Nussbaum (external; Chair) and Prof. Dr. Christa Müller (external)

At FiMC 2023 in Vienna , Prof. Dr. Rolf Hartmann was awarded the Friedrich-Stolz Award 2023 in recognition of his lifetime scientific achievements in the field of rational drug design .

"The outstanding interdisciplinary work is based on innovative design, synthesis, and, in most cases, a complete and comprehensive biophysical, biochemical, and pharmacological evaluation within his own working group. Thanks to his excellent medicinal chemistry work, Prof. Dr. Hartmann succeeded in developing highly active and selective inhibitors of steroid biosynthesis. The propagation and validation of four new targets paved the way for the development of essential drugs for cancer treatment and led to three successful company start-ups. Equally groundbreaking is the development of pathoblockers as a new approach in the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This achievement, innovative strength, and successful translation powerfully demonstrate the key role of medicinal chemistry in the investigation of fundamental pharmacological principles and how medicinal chemistry can benefit patients."

Prize Committee 2023: Dr. Ingo Hartung (external), Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer (DPhG), Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger (external; Chair ), Prof. Dr. Holger Stark (GDCh; representing Prof. Dr. Anna Hirsch), Dr. Franz von Nussbaum (GDCh), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wünsch (DPhG)

No participation due to conflict of interest : Prof. Dr. Anna Hirsch (GDCh)