The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Announces Daniel M. Skovronsky, MD, PhD, of Eli Lilly & Company, as Recipient of Prestigious 2025 Melvin R. Goodes Prize
Skovronsky will be recognized for his extraordinary work with the Amyvid PET scan, the first FDA-approved diagnostic test for Alzheimer's.
The Goodes Prize – referred to the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research – honors scientists making extraordinary and lasting contributions to the Alzheimer's field.
NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) will present its 2025 Melvin R. Goodes Prize to Daniel M. Skovronsky, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Lilly, and President, Lilly Research Labs, at the Inaugural ADDF Scientific Summit on Wednesday, March 5th. Skovronsky will be recognized for his groundbreaking work to develop critical diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's in addition to his leadership in developing and commercializing Kisunla, one of the first disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's patients.
The game-changing diagnostics developed with Skovronsky's help include the Amyvid PET scan, the first FDA-approved diagnostic test for Alzheimer's; the Tauvid PET scan, the first and only FDA-approved diagnostic for Tau in the brain; and a blood biomarker test for p-tau217 for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The Goodes Prize, referred to as the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research, is presented annually to a leading scientist to mark exceptional contributions to the Alzheimer's field. This international award was established by the late Melvin R. Goodes to advance critical science aimed at fighting Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
"Dan is the epitome of a Goodes Prize awardee, a leading scientist who has advanced innovative and bold ideas to transform how we diagnose and develop new treatments for Alzheimer's," said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at the ADDF. "The Goodes Prize emphasizes our ongoing commitment to accelerating drug development for Alzheimer's and honors the legacy of Mel Goodes, a trailblazer in the pharmaceutical industry. We are thrilled to recognize Dan's outstanding work and partnership with the ADDF, which spans more than 20 years. His efforts to develop the Amyvid PET scan made recent Alzheimer's drug approvals possible, including Lilly's Kisunla, and will benefit patients now and for years to come."
The Amyvid PET scan, which received early seed funding from the ADDF, is a brain imaging test that helps detect Alzheimer's disease by combining a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and an injection of Amyvid, a radioactive tracer. Amyvid was instrumental in the approval of the first disease-modifying Alzheimer's drugs – Aduhelm in 2021, Leqembi in 2023, and Kisunla in 2024 – providing the biomarker data needed for regulatory approval.
"Over the past decade, we have witnessed remarkable advances in Alzheimer's research," said Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Chief Scientific Officer, Lilly, and President, Lilly Research Labs. "It is my belief that through early detection and early intervention we can someday make Alzheimer's a preventable disease. I am deeply honored to receive the prestigious Goodes Prize award and look forward to joining fellow recipients who are leading the way in developing new treatments for Alzheimer's. The early support from the ADDF for my work, which aimed to revolutionize how we diagnose patients to ensure the right ones were included in our studies, was crucial to advancing the field, and I will always be grateful for that support."
The Goodes Prize, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year in Stockholm with a program featuring Queen Silvia of Sweden and U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Erik Ramanathan, honors scientists who are leading new approaches to developing Alzheimer's therapeutics and diagnostics.
"To have pioneering scientists like Dan who have received this award out there in the field, pushing research forward, is truly a gift," said Nancy Goodes, ADDF Board Member. "The breakthroughs being made in the name of the Goodes Prize are the most meaningful legacy for my husband."
The 11th annual Goodes Prize will be presented at 6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 during the inaugural ADDF Scientific Summit. This celebration of Alzheimer's science will be hosted by Dr. Howard Fillit and features a keynote address from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, bestselling author and practicing neurosurgeon. The summit will highlight nine world-renowned scientists and recipients of the Melvin R. Goodes Prize discussing therapeutics, biomarkers, prevention, and what is coming next in the field. Skovronsky will be the latest to join the ranks of these accomplished scientists who have helped bring the biology of aging to the forefront of Alzheimer's research.
"The Goodes Prize represents our mission to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure Alzheimer's disease," commented Mark Roithmayr, ADDF Chief Executive Officer. "We support one of the largest and most diverse clinical development portfolios for Alzheimer's disease, and pioneering research, like Dan's, is critical to our goal of driving meaningful innovation and change in drug development."
The Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Drug Development was established in 2015 in honor of Melvin R. Goodes, former CEO of Warner-Lambert Company, who channeled his unique knowledge of the drug industry into Alzheimer's advocacy after being diagnosed with the disease. The award recognizes individual researchers whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of Alzheimer's, paving the way for potential breakthroughs in treatment and prevention. Previous Goodes Prize recipients have demonstrated tremendous innovation and perseverance in the quest for effective treatment options for Alzheimer's. Internationally lauded as the highest recognition in Alzheimer's research, the Goodes Prize has helped move the field forward by facilitating thought provoking discussions among leading scientists from academia, industry, and philanthropy in pursuit of a future free of Alzheimer's.
About The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $370 million to fund 765 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 21 countries. To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.
SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation
Share this article