France’s Henri Kagan and Japan’s Kenso Soai Share 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

French scientist Henri Kagan and Japanese scientist Kenso Soai were awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday for their research into asymmetric catalysis.

The field concerns chemical reactions that favour the formation of one mirror-image version of a molecule over another. Such molecules can share the same composition but behave differently in biological systems.

Asymmetric catalysis uses catalysts to steer reactions towards the desired form. This control is particularly important in pharmaceutical chemistry, where a molecule’s orientation can affect its properties.

The award recognises Kagan and Soai’s work in this area, highlighting research that has helped chemists better control the products of chemical reactions.