NEW CANAAN, Conn., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sabin Vaccine Institute will recognize extraordinary contributors to disease research and healthcare innovations at its June 29, 2005 gala at the University Club in New York City. The event, themed “Celebrating Leadership in Global Health,” will honor three leaders in the field of infectious disease research from biotechnology leader MedImmune, Inc.; the founder and scientific director of the Serum Institute of India, a leading vaccine manufacturer in the global vaccine delivery infrastructure; and CNN talk show host Larry King, whose Cardiac Care Foundation assists those in need of medical care.
“This year’s award recipients are unique in their innovative spirit and compassionate dedication to help protect the health of their fellow citizens,” said H.R. Shepherd, chairman of the Sabin Vaccine Institute. “The Sabin Institute is honored to recognize these individuals and to witness their progress on scientific and healthcare fronts.” The master of ceremonies is Dr. Max Gomez, health and science editor at NewsChannel 4 in New York.
Receiving the Sabin Humanitarian Award are the scientific founders of MedImmune, Inc., including its Chairman, Founder and former Chief Executive Officer, Wayne T. Hockmeyer, Ph.D., who currently serves as President of the company’s venture capital subsidiary, MedImmune Ventures, Inc.; James F. Young, Ph.D., the company’s President of Research and Development, and Franklin H. Top, Jr., M.D., MedImmune’s former Executive Vice President and Medical Director who now serves as a Senior Vice President of MedImmune Ventures and Medical Counsel to MedImmune. Since its inception in 1988, and thanks to the dedication of scientists such as Drs. Hockmeyer, Young and Top, MedImmune has invested more than $1 billion to develop new preventative therapies, including the first monoclonal antibody to prevent an infectious disease, the first innovation in influenza vaccine technology in more than 50 years, and one of the first vaccines that has the potential to prevent cancer caused by human papillomavirus.
Serum Institute of India, Ltd., headquartered in Pune, India, emerged over the last 35 years to become the largest exporter of vaccines from India, with its products being exported to 138 countries across the globe. Chairman Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Ph.D. will receive the Humanitarian Award and Executive Director Suresh S. Jadhav, Ph.D. will receive the Award for Scientific Excellence. The 2005 Sabin Global Corporate Philanthropy Award will recognize the company’s efforts.
Larry King will also receive a 2005 Sabin Humanitarian Award. In addition to his legendary broadcasting career, King founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars and provided life-saving cardiac procedures for nearly 60 needy children and adults.
The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute’s mission is to prevent disease by advancing development of new vaccines and increasing immunization rates. The Institute pursues Dr. Albert Sabin’s vision of a world protected from disease by vaccines.
Sabin Vaccine Institute
CONTACT: Raymond MacDougall, Sabin Vaccine Institute, +1-301-793-4949,raymond.macdougall@sabin.org
Web site: http://www.sabin.org/
