Singapore: Bristol-Myers Squibb's YERVOY (ipilimumab), a novel immunotherapy and the first medicine approved for unresectable or metastatic melanoma in more than a decade, received the Prix Galien USA 2012 Award for Best Biotechnology Product.

The award, which is selected by an eminent scientific committee that includes several Nobel Laureates, recognizes the technical, scientific and clinical research skills and achievements necessary to develop innovative medicines and devices and is considered the most prestigious prize in biopharmaceutical research and development.

Dr Elliott Sigal, executive vice president, chief scientific officer, and president, R&D, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "YERVOY is an important representation of the progress we have made in this innovative field and a great example of how the combined contributions of bioPharma, biotech and academia can make a difference in people's lives. We are proud that our work is being recognized by the Prix Galien USA Committee."

Overall, the types of adverse events (AEs) attributed to YERVOY are generally mechanism (immune)-based. YERVOY can result in severe and fatal immune-related adverse reactions due to T-cell activation and proliferation. Adverse events associated with YERVOY were managed with protocol-specific guidelines, including the administration of systemic corticosteroids, dose interruption and discontinuation and/or other immunosuppressants.

The Prix Galien Awards were created to honor medical research and pharmacology for outstanding efforts to improve the human condition through approval of innovative treatments and medicines.