ROTATEQ® (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Pentavalent), Merck's vaccine for rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and children, received the Prix Galien USA 2010 Award for Best Biotechnology Product.
"We are honored that Merck's long-term commitment to the discovery and development of new, innovative ways to prevent and treat disease is being acknowledged with this prestigious award," said Dr. Peter S. Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories. "We congratulate the teams whose hard work and dedication contributed to ROTATEQ."
The Prix Galien recognizes the pharmaceutical industry's outstanding achievement in the development of new medicines. An internationally recognized award, the Prix Galien was founded in France in 1969 by French pharmacist, Roland Mehl, and the 2007 ceremony was the Prix Galien's inaugural event in the United States. The Prix Galien, often considered the industry's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, is the highest accolade for pharmaceutical research and development.
The award was presented at a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 28, and follows previous Prix Galien top honors awarded to Merck in 2008 for ISENTRESS® (raltegravir) for best pharmaceutical agent.
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Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com.