Scholarly papers from the winners and finalists of the 2010 Prix Galien USA and Prix Galien International awards have been published as a special issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. The Prix Galien, regarded as the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research, recognizes outstanding achievements in improving the global human condition through the development of innovative drugs and treatments.
Established in 1970, Prix Galien is the most prestigious award of its kind in eleven countries. The awards include the Prix Galien Humanitarian Award, the International Prix Galien award, and Prix Galien USA, which has three subcategories, Best Medical Technology, Best Pharmaceutical Agent and Best Biotechnology Product.
"I thank the many leading companies and eminent scientists and scholars whose pioneering work saves lives and raises standards of living," said Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, who spoke at the awards ceremony in New York City. "I thank the Galien Foundation for bringing us together and for recognizing that a healthier world is a safer and more just world."
Also present were Philippe Douste-Blazy, President of UNITAID, and former US President Bill Clinton, now President of the Clinton Health Access Initiative; each was awarded the Prix Galien Pro Bono Humanitarian Award for their effort to find treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
"I'm particularly grateful to receive this award from this group on behalf of all the people who work in our foundation and work with UNITAID," said Clinton, "because I believe that the biomedical challenges we face in the 21st century cannot be successfully addressed unless we resolve the legitimate differences that have existed among the large pharmaceutical companies, the generic companies, the governments struggling to keep their own people alive, and the developed nations struggling to do the right thing by their own companies and contributing money to keep people alive."
Best Medical Technology was awarded to Luminex Corporation for xTAG™. "Advances in the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections: role of the Luminex xTAG respiratory viral panel" led by Dr Nancy Krunic.
Best Biotechnology Product was awarded to Merck & Co, Inc. for RotaTeq™. "Development, clinical evaluation, and post-licensure impact of RotaTeq, a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine" led by Dr Michelle Goveia.
Best Pharmaceutical Agent was awarded to Novartis for Coartem™. "Novartis Malaria Initiative: best practice example of pharmaceutical industry's engagement in the fight against malaria" led by Gilbert Lefèvre.
Prix Galien International Award was awarded to Amgen for Nplate™ and Bayer Schering Pharma for Xarelto™. "The development of romiplostim for patients with immune thrombocytopenia" by Graham Molineux (Nplate™) and "The discovery and development of rivaroxaban" led by Frank Misselwitz (Xarelto™).
"Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences is proud to publish papers that summarize the history and development of advances in pharmaceutical science" said Annals Director and Executive Editor Dr. Douglas Braaten. "We are delighted to partner with Bruno Cohen, Galien Foundation President, to honor the winners and finalists of the Prix Galien awards.
By highlighting these pharmaceutical industry achievements, this special Annals volume continues the tradition established by Prix Galien founder Roland Mehl to honor the most important drugs and treatments which will have a worldwide impact."
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences