Presented by the Japanese Cancer Association and Debiopharm Group™ the ‘JCA Mauvernay Award 2013’ goes to Doctors Kitabayashi and Yano

Lausanne, Switzerland – October 04, 2013 – Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm), the Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs including oncology and companion diagnostics, will be presenting the ‘JCA-Mauvernay Award’ on October 5, to Doctors Issay Kitabayashi from Tokyo National Cancer Center Research Institute for his basic research on ‘Molecular study of acute myeloid leukemia and its application for therapy’ and Seiji Yano from Kanazawa University for his applied research on ‘Circumvention of molecular targeted drug resistance in lung cancer’.

Doctors Kitabayashi and Yano will receive their Awards during the General Assembly of the 72nd Annual Conference of the Japanese Cancer Association (JCA) in Yokohama on the following theme: ‘Cancer research providing hope to fight against cancer’. Dr. Tetsuo Noda, President of the JCA and a Debiopharm Group representative will present the trophies to both scientists.

“The selecting committee members chose the nominees for the high standard and application possibilities of their research. Debiopharm is honored to be part of this Award with the JCA and wishes both scientists success with their work,” said Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, President and founder of Debiopharm Group™.

Dr Kitabayashi focuses on the molecular study of the basis of the development of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). He shows that it is related to chromosomal rearrangements modifying the function of genes involved in transcription and hematopoiesis (AML1, PML, MOZ).

Molecular drugs like EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) show dramatic effects in lung cancer patients. However resistance to EGFR-TKIs is a major problem in current clinical practice. Dr Yano aims to conduct clinical trials to elucidate and overcome the molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance to lung cancer drugs and to establish treatments to overcome it.

About Debiopharm Group™
Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm) is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The group in-licenses, develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small molecule drug candidates having reached clinical development phases I, II or III, as well as earlier stage candidates. It develops its products for global registration and access to the largest number of patients worldwide. The products are out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing. Debiopharm is also active in the field of companion diagnostics with a view to progressing in the area of personalized medicine. Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs. For more information about Debiopharm Group™, please visit: www.debiopharm.com