Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, MD, PhD, President of the Supervisory Board and co-owner of Adamed Pharma, has been honoured with the Prix Galien CEE Lifetime Achievement Award 2026, one of the most prestigious international awards in medicine and pharmaceuticals. The jury recognised her nearly 30 years of contributions to pharmaceutical innovation, her role in strengthening Poland’s research capabilities and her commitment to making modern treatments accessible to more patients.

Małgorzata Adamkiewicz received the award at a ceremony in New York attended by leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, and representatives of the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. This year’s Prix Galien celebrations were particularly significant, as the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in New York for the first time, during the 20th anniversary celebrations of Prix Galien USA.

“It is no coincidence that we are gathered in New York today. Dr Małgorzata Adamkiewicz’s achievements deserve to be recognised here, among some of the world’s most distinguished figures in medicine. As the Galien Foundation’s representative for this region, I take particular pride in seeing her work honoured on this international stage,” said Tomasz Hildt, Regional Director of the Galien Foundation for the Middle East and Central and Eastern Europe.

The award citation highlighted Dr Adamkiewicz’s contribution to developing modern treatments and making them more widely accessible. It recalled a time when modern treatments for schizophrenia were beyond the reach of most patients in Poland. Adamed’s research team developed its own formulation of olanzapine, enabling thousands of patients to benefit from modern treatment.

“In a year when New York is also hosting Prix Galien International, we are proud to honour Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, whose achievements extend far beyond Central and Eastern Europe,” said Bruno Cohen, Chairman of the Galien Foundation.

From treating patients to developing medicines

Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, MD, PhD is as an endocrinologist. For more than 10 years, she treated patients while also pursuing scientific and academic work. In the late 1990s, she became involved in developing the family-owned pharmaceutical business. At her initiative, Adamed established Poland’s first research department dedicated to developing original medicines. As she explained at the ceremony, she chose this path because she wanted to help far more patients than she could reach through clinical practice alone.

“When I was practising medicine, I came to understand that nothing is more precious than our health and our lives. I saw patients fighting for every extra minute of life. Today, those of us who develop innovations carry an enormous responsibility. We must ensure that new technologies serve people. We must work together across borders and divisions, always remembering that human life is what matters most,” said Małgorzata Adamkiewicz as she accepted the award.

One of the world’s most prestigious awards in medicine

Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Medicine”, the Prix Galien is one of the world’s most prestigious international awards for pharmaceutical research and medical innovation. The awards are presented by independent juries comprising internationally recognised scientists and experts, including Nobel laureates. Established in 1970, the Prix Galien honours achievements that advance medicine and improve patients’ health.

The award takes its name from Galen of Pergamon, one of the founding figures of modern medicine and pharmacology. His belief that the primary purpose of medicine is to care for patients remains at the heart of the Prix Galien philosophy.