The 2011 Prix Galien was awarded on 25 May, in the presence of Ms Valérie Pécresse, Minister of Higher Education and Research, and Ms Nora Berra, Secretary of Health, to LFB for its human fibrinogen, CLOTTAFACT®, in the "Medicine for the Treatment of Rare Diseases" category. The award ceremony took place at the Paris Academy of Medicine, where Christian Béchon, Chairman and CEO of LFB S.A., received the prize from Professor Prugnaud.

 "This prize rewards the advanced level of research and development at LFB […] It publicly recognizes the company's commitment to the development, manufacture, and distribution of medicine essential to the lives of thousands of patients suffering from serious, and often rare, diseases," said Christian Béchon.

 For several years, the company has been investing 20% of its turnover in research and development. Developing programs targeting rare diseases and establishing partnerships with key players* in this field is one of LFB's ethical commitments. LFB also develops new therapeutic proteins for the treatment of rare diseases which are derived from plasma or biotechnologies, and it is particularly well known for its clinical trials testing the therapeutic value of certain proteins in the field of rare auto-immune diseases.

*ADAAT, Alliance Maladies Rares, EURORDIS, IRIS, World Federation of Hemophilia, International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies, ORPHANET.

About the Prix Galien: Each year, the Prix Galien recognizes both new therapeutic innovations made available to the public and pharmaceutical research. It thereby promotes and stimulates drug research and encourages the laboratories and teams behind it. They are motivated by the prestige of the prize, which garners the attention of both French state authorities, including the Ministers of Health, Research and Industry, and a foreign audience. 

Read the Prix Galien press release: www.prixgalien.com

 About LFB: LFB is a French biopharmaceutical company which develops, manufactures and markets medicine prescribed for the treatment of serious, and often rare, diseases in major therapeutic fields: immunology, haemostasis and intensive care. Number one in France and sixth in the world for plasma-derived medicine, LFB, through its subsidiary LFB Biotechnologies, is also one of the leading European companies involved in the development of monoclonal antibodies and new-generation proteins based on biotechnologies. In 2010, it invested 86.5 million euros in research and development and generated a turnover of 411.6 million euros. LFB employs 1,835 people. http://www.lfb.fr/

 LFB press contact:

Sandrine Charrières - Director of Communication

Tel: + 33 1 69 82 72 80 - charrieres@lfb.fr