Prix Galien USA 2011

Hollywood has its Academy Awards and the pharmaceutical industry celebrates its brightest research accomplishments at the Prix Galien USA. Says Galien Foundation Secretary General Bruno Cohen: "The mission of Prix Galien USA is to be the premiere event where humanitarians and innovators at the forefront of biomedical research gather annually to honor the highest achievement."

This year's celebration took place on Sept. 27 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where the industry's boldest thinkers, Nobel laureates, and foreign dignitaries came together to honor Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of the global aid group Partners in Health, with the Pro Bono Humanum Award for his lifetime of humanitarian efforts in Haiti and throughout the world. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the FDA, offered her congratulations in a taped broadcast, stating, "The lives of untold thousands of people all over the world have been enhanced, prolonged, and improved because of Paul. And that is no small feat." This sentiment was echoed by the applause of some 500-plus attendees.

Nobel laureate and Prix Galien Committee member Elie Wiesel (left) with Pro Bono Humanum Award winner Dr. Paul Farmer.

The great hall at the Natural History Museum provided the backdrop.

Prix Galien USA Secretary-General Bruno Cohen.

John Gary Mohr, Shari Gersten, Philippe Schiason, and Zev Sherl of the Galien Foundation.

The black tie gala honors the dedication of pharmaceutical industry scientists who help develop life-changing technologies—no small task. Award winners include Janssen Biotech's Stelara, and Amgen's Prolia and XGEVA for Best Biotechnology Product; and Pfizer's Prevnar 13 for Best Pharmaceutical Agent. As Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, noted in his address to Prix Galien last year, "In a world in which we can map the human genome and send vehicles to the far reaches of space, surely we can rally the technology, wealth, and expertise needed to meet the [global]health Millennium Development Goals." This event goes a long way toward proving that industry continues to head in the right direction.

Prix Galien USA Committee members

Photos courtesy of Galien Foundation

Pharmaceutical Executive magazine, as exclusive industry media partner, applauds the winners and the many sponsors who helped make the evening a rousing success. – Jeff Schindler, Managing Editor