Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1939

Gerhard Domagk

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Prize share: 1/1

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1939 was awarded to Gerhard Domagk "for the discovery of the antibacterial effects of prontosil"

Gerhard Domagk was caused by the authorities of his country to decline the award but he later received the diploma and the medal.

To cite this section
MLA style: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1939. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2025. Fri. 5 Dec 2025. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1939/summary/>

Go to the top of the page

Streams during Nobel Week

Coming up

Watch the 2025 Nobel Prize lectures, Nobel Week Dialogue, the prize award ceremonies in Oslo and Stockholm and Nobel Peace Prize Forum here at nobelprize.org.

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.