Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) and Biotechnology Industry Organization
(BIO) Present Award at BIO 2006 in Chicago
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chemical Heritage Foundation
(CHF) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) presented the 8th
Annual Biotechnology Heritage Award to Alejandro Zaffaroni, an outstanding
pioneer of the biotechnology revolution and legendary entrepreneur with
considerable scientific and business skills. The award was presented at the
plenary breakfast session today at BIO 2006 at McCormick Place Convention
Center in Chicago.
"Dr. Zaffaroni's scientific contributions, particularly in the area of
drug delivery, have enhanced health care for people throughout the world,"
stated BIO President Jim Greenwood. "His steadfast commitment to research
and development has earned him more than two dozen patents and the
deep-founded respect of his colleagues."
"Alex Zaffaroni helped to guide Syntex to success in the 1950s, and has
gone on to give the world a half-century of life saving innovations through
his commitment to novel drug delivery and his inspired entrepreneurship,"
said Arnold Thackray, president of CHF. "He embodies the spirit that is
making biotechnology a living, thriving reality."
Alejandro Zaffaroni
Over a long and distinguished career, Alejandro Zaffaroni has founded
and co-founded many companies that have become world leaders in medical
technology. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Zaffaroni joined Syntex
Corporation in 1951. At the time, Syntex was a small chemical company in
Mexico that was becoming prominent in steroid research. He subsequently
played a key role in transforming Syntex into a major pharmaceutical
company that pioneered the development of the birth control pill.
Zaffaroni developed controlled drug-delivery technology, more commonly
known as "the patch," and founded ALZA Corporation to bring this important
technology to the world market. In addition to ALZA, Zaffaroni founded
DNAX, Affymax, Affymetrix, Maxygen, SurroMed and Alexza -- all companies
that developed and marketed unique medical and pharmaceutical products. In
1994, he cofounded Symyx, the combinatorial chemistry company dedicated to
the discovery of such materials as superconductors, magnets, catalysts, and
polymers.
Among his many honors, Zaffaroni was awarded the National Medal of
Technology by President Clinton in 1995 in recognition of his contributions
to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In 1998, he became the
first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the University of
California at Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum and was elected fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
About the Biotechnology Heritage Award
The Biotechnology Heritage Award is presented annually at a special
ceremony during the BIO Annual International Convention to honor
individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of
biotechnology through discovery, innovation, commercialization, and/or
public understanding. In honoring these individuals, the Chemical Heritage
Foundation and the Biotechnology Industry Organization seek to encourage
emulation, inspire achievement, and promote public understanding of modern
science, industry, and economics in this rapid-growth area.
The award complements the mission of both organizations by advancing
their mutual goals of educating the public, nourishing a sense of pride and
community within the industry, and developing the record of the remarkable
contributions the molecular sciences make to our lives. Previous award
winners include Paul Berg, Herbert W. Boyer, Francis S. Collins, Walter
Gilbert, Leroy Hood, George B. Rathmann, William J. Rutter, Phillip A.
Sharp, Robert A. Swanson, and J. Craig Venter.
About the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic
institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across
the United States and in 31 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
http://www.bio.org.
About the Chemical Heritage Foundation
The Chemical Heritage Foundation serves the community of the chemical
and molecular sciences, and the wider public, by treasuring the past,
educating the present, and inspiring the future. CHF carries out a program
of outreach and interpretation in order to advance an understanding of the
role of the chemical and molecular sciences, technologies, and industries
in shaping society; maintains a world-class collection of materials that
document the history and heritage of the chemical and molecular sciences,
technologies, and industries; and encourages research in its collections.
CHF regularly hosts seminars in biotechnology through its Joseph
Priestley Society as well as actively honoring, preserving, and encouraging
this most vital and exciting field. Throughout the brief and brilliant
history of biotechnology, many leaders have been both entrepreneurs and
researchers bringing the fruits of their labors rapidly to the global
market while advancing our collective understanding. CHF is proud to
preserve this important area of human endeavor. For more information, visit
http://www.chemheritage.org
SOURCE Biotechnology Industry Organization
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Related links:
http://www.bio.org
http://www.chemheritage.org/
CONTACT:
Neil Gussman of Chemical Heritage Foundation,
+1-717-314-2494
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