Lausanne, Switzerland, October 11, 2006 – The Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a global independent biopharmaceutical development company specialising in oncology and serious medical conditions, today announced that the ‘Debiopharm Life Sciences Award’ has been presented to Spanish scientist Dr Batlle for his outstanding research in both fundamental and clinical oncology. The ceremony took place during the 6th ISREC Conference On Cancer Research, funded by Debiopharm and organised by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC). Professor Patrick Aebischer, President of the EPFL and Dr Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, CEO and President of Debiopharm, both members of the jury, presented Dr Batlle and his institute with CHF 100’000 and an etched crystal tribute commemorating this honour.
Dr Batlle’s work focuses on the mechanisms involved in colorectal cancer. His achievements include research leading to the following publications: “Snail as a suppressor of E-Cadherin gene expression in epithelial cells” in Nature Cell Biology; “The genetic program driven by beta-catenin and Tcf in colorectal cancer (CRC). Revealing the role of EphB receptors in the intestinal epithelium” in Cell; and “EphB receptors as suppressors of CRC progression” in Nature.
The Award was set up to mentor and motivate young innovative European researchers in the field of life sciences; with this year’s focus on oncology. Criteria for applications are novelty and originality in relevant therapeutic areas.
“We are proud to present the Award here in Lausanne, one of the most important scientific centers in Europe. This prize is intended for top European scientists and we are impressed with the high standard of research submitted. Next year’s focus is on neuroscience and we look forward to even more exciting science,” said Rolland-Yves Mauvernay.
“We are fortunate at the EPFL and ISREC to be developing unique scientific programs at the interface between life science, engineering and basic science. We are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of European science with the Debiopharm Life Sciences Award,” added Patrick Aebischer.
Debiopharm presents three other awards worldwide: the ‘Mauvernay Research Excellence Award’ in the US; the ‘Debio-China Prize’ in China; and the ‘JCA-Mauvernay Award’ in Japan.
About The Debiopharm Group
The Debiopharm Group is a global biopharmaceutical development company that in-licenses promising biologics and small molecule drug candidates. Debiopharm develops its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential for out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.
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.
Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Debiopharm has developed three products with global combined sales in excess of $2.3 billion in 2005.
For more information on the Debiopharm Group, please visit: www.debiopharm.com
About EPFL
The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is one of Switzerland’s two federal institutes of technology. Nearly 10,000 students, researchers and collaborators from more than 100 nationalities work together to push back the limits of science and technology. EPFL is recognised for its quality of teaching and for the interdisciplinary research done in its 250 laboratories. The School also has unique strengths in technology transfer; an average of 10 new companies are spun off from EPFL research every year, and the School has several unique scientific partnerships that benefit students, researchers and businesses alike.