WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck & Co. has received the Prix Galien USA 2013 Award for Best Biotechnology Product for Zostavax (zoster vaccine live), its vaccine to help prevent shingles.
The Prix Galien Award recognizes the pharmaceutical industry achievement in the development of new medicines.
"Merck is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of this prestigious award," Roger Perlmutter, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said in a statement Wednesday. "This achievement is a testament to the remarkable contributions of everyone at Merck who played a role in helping to bring Zostavax to market."
An internationally recognized award, the Prix Galien was founded in France in 1969 by French pharmacist Roland Mehl and is considered the highest accolade for pharmaceutical research and development, according to Merck.
The company said the recognition for Zostavax is its sixth Prix Galien USA award in seven years. It previously received Prix Galien USA honors for Victrelis (2012), RotaTeq (2010), Isentress (2008), and Januvia and Gardasil (2007).
Merck added that, worldwide, it has won the Prix Galien more than 30 times, making Merck one of the two most-awarded companies of all time.
