German, French scientists share 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine

The Nobel Foundation announced in Stockholm on Monday that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will be shared by Harald zur Hausen of Germany, and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of France.

The Nobel Foundation announced in Stockholm on Monday that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will be shared by Harald zur Hausen of Germany, and Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of France.

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"The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has on Monday decided to award The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2008 with one half to Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer and the other half jointly to Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)," a statement issued by the foundation said.

Harald zur Hausen, 72, of the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg "went against current dogma and postulated that oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) caused cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women", the statement added.

The discovery of HIV by Barré-Sinoussi, 61, and Montagnier, 76, was "one prerequisite for the current understanding of the biology of the disease and its antiretroviral treatment", it said.

The German scientist will get half of the 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.4 million) prize amount. The French scientists will share the other half.