- Milestone 20th Anniversary of Prix Galien USA edition honors groundbreaking achievements advancing global healthcare and patient outcomes

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galien Foundation, the premier global institution dedicated to honoring innovation in the life sciences, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Prix Galien USA Awards last night at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The event brought together distinguished leaders from the biomedical industry and academia to recognize outstanding achievements advancing medical innovation and patient care. This year's winners were selected by the Prix Galien USA Committees, comprising 25 committee members, 11 subcommittee members and 15 advisory board members, including three Nobel Laureates, and were honored across eight categories: "Best Biotechnology Product," "Best Pharmaceutical Product," "Best Product for Rare/Orphan Diseases," Best Medical Technology," "Best Digital Health Solution," "Incubators, Accelerators and Equity," "Prix Galien EcoHealth," and "Best Startup."

The ceremony also celebrated the inaugural Prix Galien Patient First Award, which honors exceptional advocacy and commitment to improving the patient journey, alongside the Prix Galien International recipients. Presented every two years, the International awards recognize previous national Prix Galien winners across six categories: "Best Biotechnology Product," "Best Digital Health Solution," "Best Medical Technology," "Best Pharmaceutical Product," "Best Product for Orphan/Rare Diseases," and "Best Startup."

"The Prix Galien Awards recognize the visionaries and organizations pushing the boundaries of healthcare and transforming the way we prevent, diagnose and treat disease. As we mark two decades of honoring excellence in the U.S., we are equally as proud to celebrate our International recipients and Patient First Award honorees for their relentless dedication to advancing scientific discovery, elevating patient care, and bringing life-changing solutions to communities worldwide,said Kenneth Frazier, Prix Galien Committee Chair (categories: Medical Technology, Digital Health, Incubator/Accelerator/Equity, and Startup), former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc., Chairman, Health Assurance Initiatives, General Catalyst.

The 2026 Prix Galien USA Award Winners

The 2026 Prix Galien International Winners

The 2026 Prix Galien Patient First Award Winners

"Behind every meaningful advance in medicine are the researchers, entrepreneurs and healthcare leaders who are willing to challenge conventional thinking and pursue new possibilities. The Prix Galien Award Committees are proud to honor this year's USA and International recipients, alongside our Patient First Award honorees, for their exceptional contributions to scientific progress and their commitment to addressing unmet medical needs," said Michael Rosenblatt, MD, Chair of the Prix Galien USA Awards Committee, former Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine, and former Chief Medical Officer of Merck & Co. Inc. "Their collective work represents the determination, advocacy, and global collaboration needed to turn promising ideas into life-changing advances for patients everywhere."

The Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award for Global Health Equity was presented to John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and U.S. Senator, in recognition of his longstanding leadership in advancing global health, human rights, and environmental sustainability. Throughout his tenure in the Senate and as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary Kerry championed global HIV/AIDS relief, fought stigma, advocated for critical funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and co-authored the historic bipartisan repeal of the 20-year U.S. HIV visa ban. As the first U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, he further advanced the connection between environmental sustainability and public health, reinforcing the importance of protecting the planet as a foundation for a healthier future.

"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Prix Galien USA Awards, we are proud to recognize the innovators whose work is shaping the future of medicine and improving the lives of patients around the world," said Bruno Cohen, Chairman of The Galien Foundation. "This year's celebration is especially meaningful as we honor our Prix Galien USA, International Prix Galien, and Prix Galien Patient First Award recipients, while also presenting The Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award for Global Health Equity to Secretary John Kerry in recognition of his extraordinary lifetime of public service and dedication to global healthcare and climate initiatives. On behalf of The Galien Foundation, our Awards Committees, and the Prix Galien Alumni, we congratulate all of this year's honorees and look forward to the continued impact of their work."

The Prix Galien Awards were created in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honor of Galien, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology, to recognize outstanding innovation and scientific advancement. With chapters in 16 countries and Africa, Prix Galien is regarded worldwide as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the life science industry.

International Prix Galien Awards Committee

Pr. Awa Marie COLL SECK

Minister of State to the President of the Republic of Senegal, President of the Scientific Committee of the Galien Forum Africa

Africa

Pr. Koen AUGUSTYNS

Full Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Antwerp.

Belgium/ Luxembourg

Dr. Mikael DOSTEN

Former Chief Scientific Officer & President, Worldwide Research, Pfizer. Board Member, Agilent Technologies, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Chai Discovery, BenchSci, and Enveda Biosciences

Bridges (Nordic+/Austria/Israel/Portugal/Spain)

Pr. Ernesto L. SCHIFFRIN

Physician-in-Chief, Dept. of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital; Director, Hypertension and Vascular Research Unit, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research; Dist. James McGill Prof. and Assoc. Chair, Dept. of Medicine, McGill University

Canada

Dr. Annick TIBI

Head of Clinical Trials Department, AGEPS, AP-HP, Associate Professor, Head of UP "Pharmaceutical Development and Innovation", Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Paris

France

Pr. Marianne DIETERICH, Director of the neurology clinic and outpatient department at the University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Germany

Pr. George P. CHROUSOS

Professor, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian School of Athens

Greece

Pr. Ashutosh SHARMA

President, Indian National Science Academy

India

Pr. Pier Luigi CANONICO

Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology, Università del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro

Italy

Pr. Takashi KADOWAKI

President of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences

Japan

Pr. Yeong Min PARK

CEO, Korea Drug Development Fund

Korea

Pr. Cezary SZCZYLIK

Polish Professor of Medical Science Specializing in Oncology, Hematology and Internal Diseases

Poland

Pr. Christoph RENNER

Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology; Director, Medical Program for Cell Therapy, Klinik Hirslanden, Zurich

Switzerland

Pr. Dr. Lisette van GERMERT-PIJNEN

Full Professor Persuasive Health Technology, University of Twente, and Visiting Professor, University of Waterloo

The Netherlands

Pr. Sir Munir PIRMOHAMED

David Weatherall Chair of Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK

United Kingdom

Mr. Kenneth C. FRAZIER

Retired Chairman and CEO, Merck & Co; Chairman, Health Assurance Initiatives, General Catalyst

United States of America

Dr. Michael ROSENBLATT

Member, Harvard Board of Overseers Advisory Partner, Ascenta Capital; Senior Advisor, Bain Capital Life Sciences & Flagship Pioneering; Member, Harvard Board of Overseers

United States of America

Prix Galien USA Awards Committee 2026

Prix Galien Best Medical Technology, Best Digital Health Solution, Best Incubator / Accelerator / Equity, and Best Startup Committee 2026

Kenneth C. FRAZIER

Committee Chair, Former Chairman & CEO Merck

Roch DOLIVEUX

Honorary CEO, UCB

Dr. Mikael DOLSTEN

Former Chief Scientific Officer & President, Pfizer Research and Development

Alex GORSKY

Former CEO & Executive Chairman, Johnson & Johnson

Penny HEATON

M.D., Global Head, Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Johnson & Johnson

Sheri McCOY

Board of Directors, AstraZeneca, Former CEO, Avon

Joel S. MARCUS

Executive Chairman & Founder, Alexandria

Christophe WEBER,

Healthcare Executive, Former CEO Takeda Pharmaceutical

Elias ZERHOUNI

Former Head of Global R&D, Sanofi

Prix Galien Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Rare/Orphan Diseases Awards Committee 2026

Michael ROSENBLATT

M.D., Galien Forum Co-Chair, Former Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine, Former Chief Medical Officer of Merck & Co., Inc., Member, Harvard Board of Overseers

Prix Galien Committee Chair

Linda BUCK

Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center member; Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington

Susan DESMOND-HELLMANN

M.D., M.P.H., Former Chief Executive Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Laurie GLIMCHER

M.D., President and CEO, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Avram HERSHKO

M.D., Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, Distinguished Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Mary-Claire KING

Ph.D., American Cancer Society Professor of Genome Sciences and Medical Genetics, University of Washington

Sir Cato T. LAURENCIN

M.D., Ph.D., K.C.S.L., Chief Executive Officer, The Cato T. Laurencin Institute at UConn; The University Professor and Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor, University of Connecticut

Steven J. LESTER

M.D., Medical Director, Discovery Oasis; Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Mayo Clinic and ASU Alliance for Health Care Accelerator

Stanley B. PRUSINER

M.D.