Biotech's Helix Award Honors Genentech
"Genentech has been a trailblazer since its inception in 1976," said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum. "Today the company is an industry bellwether that also continues to break new ground in oncology, immunology, vascular disease and specialty biopharmaceuticals."
Genentech (NYSE: DNA) is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes biotherapeutics for significant, unmet medical needs. Seventeen of the currently approved biotechnology products originated from, or are based on, Genentech science. Genentech manufactures and commercializes 12 biotechnology products in the United States.
"We are very honored to receive this prestigious award and be recognized for our accomplishments in 2003," said Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H., executive vice president, Development and Product Operations, and chief medical officer at Genentech. "At Genentech, we have a 28-year track record of transforming scientific discoveries into breakthrough therapies for patients. We are looking forward to 2004, and we will continue to focus on rigorous and innovative science that meets unmet medical needs."
Two additional Helix Awards, in the emerging and international company categories, will be given tomorrow, Feb. 25, at a second CEO & Investor Conference plenary luncheon, which runs 12:30-2 p.m.
The James D. Watson Helix Award recognizes leadership in three distinct areas: scientific innovation, company growth and corporate citizenship. It is presented by the Long Island Life Sciences Initiative (LILSI) and is jointly sponsored by BIO, Stony Brook University and The Center for Biotechnology.
The competition is open to public and private, U.S. or foreign-based biotechnology companies. An independent panel of judges reviewed the 2003 submissions.
LILSI is a not-for-profit trade association created to address issues of strategic importance to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and life science technology-based industries. LILSI advocates on behalf of public policy that will improve the Long Island region's business climate for life science companies and enhance the research and business infrastructure that is vital to their success. More information on LILSI can be found at www.lilsi.org.
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. For more information, please visit www.bio.org.