The Galien Foundation Presents Senator John Kerry with 2026 Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award for Global Health Equity

• Honoring the former U.S. Secretary of State and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate for pioneering efforts to address climate change and public health initiatives
• Award to be presented on October 29, 2026, at the Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony in New York City

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galien Foundation, the premier global institution dedicated to honoring innovators in life sciences, today announced Former Secretary of State, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy of Climate and U.S. Senator John Kerry as the 2026 recipient of the Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award for Global Health Equity. Secretary Kerry is recognized for his exceptional leadership and diplomatic contributions to global health, human rights, and environmental sustainability. The award will be presented on Thursday, October 29, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, during the Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony, which celebrates its 20th anniversary.

"Recognition from The Galien Foundation is humbling. It carries special meaning for me because of its linkage to the legacy of Elie Wiesel, whose moral courage and unwavering commitment to human dignity continue to inspire us. Wiesel's conviction that we are responsible for one another applies to issues the world over. That includes reminding us that global health equity is not only a scientific or diplomatic ambition, but a moral imperative. True global health equity demands that we tackle disease threats today while protecting the planet for the generations to come. I accept this honor on behalf of all the advocates, scientists, and diplomats who work quietly every day across borders to build a safer, healthier world for all," said Former Secretary of State, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy of Climate and U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Throughout his Senate leadership and tenure as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Kerry was a driving force behind global HIV/AIDS relief, fighting stigma, protecting critical funding for PEPFAR (the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and co-authoring the historic bipartisan repeal of the 20-year U.S. HIV visa ban. As the first U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, he further expanded this vision by establishing environmental stability as a core requirement for public health.

"Secretary Kerry's lifelong dedication to international diplomacy has fundamentally reshaped how the international community protects human life and advances health equity," said Kenneth C. Frazier, Co-Chair of Prix Galien USA Committees. "From leading the 2015 Paris Climate Accord to brokering international coalitions that protect vulnerable communities from health emergencies and crises, his legacy unites health equity, human dignity, and environmental stewardship."

The Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award recognizes innovative individual and group efforts to improve the human condition through the application of biomedical science to health problems in developing or underserved populations worldwide. In 2018, the Award was renamed in honor of its first recipient, Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, renowned biopharmaceutical leader and philanthropist, honored for his decades of corporate and philanthropic contributions to combating disease and advancing better health for all. Dr. Vagelos chaired the Prix Galien USA Committee between 2012 and 2017.

Secretary Kerry joins an extraordinary group of past honorees whose leadership has helped reshape global health, advance scientific discovery, and improve the lives of underserved populations worldwide. Previous recipients include former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; Bill and Melinda Gates; Dr. Anthony Fauci; Dr. Francis Collins; humanitarian physician Dr. Paul Farmer; His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco; and actor and patient advocate Michael J. Fox. From expanding access to lifesaving medicines and combating infectious diseases to championing medical research, patient advocacy, and environmental sustainability, these laureates reflect the award's enduring commitment to translating leadership, science, and humanitarian purpose into measurable improvements in human health.

All named recipients have been verified against the Galien Foundation's official laureate records.

"To achieve true health equity, we must tackle immediate health crises and protect the natural ecosystems people rely on. We are delighted to celebrate Senator John Kerry's advocacy, from championing life-saving treatments and prevention strategies during the height of the global AIDS pandemic to negotiating international climate accords. By bridging the crucial connection between human health and the environment, his dedicated leadership reminds us that protecting our planet and expanding access to healthcare are fundamentally united in the fight for global equity," said Michael Rosenblatt, MD, Co-Chair of Prix Galien USA Committees, Former Dean of Tufts University School of Medicine, and former Chief Medical Officer of Merck & Co. Inc.

Each year, The Galien Foundation also recognizes and honors the Award's connection to Prof. Elie Wiesel (1928–2016), Honorary Founding President of the Galien Foundation, Holocaust survivor, and 1986 Nobel Peace Laureate. Since its inception, the annual Prix Galien Pro Bono Humanum Award had been presented by Prof. Wiesel, who attended every ceremony during his lifetime.

To learn more about the award and past Roy Vagelos Pro Bono Humanum Award winners, please visit: https://www.galienfoundation.org/roy-vagelos-pro-bono-humanum-award.

About The Galien Foundation
The Galien Foundation fosters, recognizes, and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve human health. Its vision is to serve as a catalyst for the development of the next generation of treatments and technologies that will transform medical practice and save lives. Established in Paris in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honor of Galen, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology, the Prix Galien is widely regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research.

Today, the Prix Galien operates through 18 chapters spanning more than 75 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Expansion is currently underway in China, Singapore, and Australia.

In 2025, the Foundation launched the inaugural Prix Galien Bridges Forum and Awards Ceremony at the Nobel Forum in Stockholm, spanning Northern and Southern Europe, Israel, and the Middle East, and the first-ever Patient Summit for Prix Galien USA, reinforcing its commitment to science without borders.

The Nobel Prize and the Prix Galien share a common birthplace in Paris, where Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament in 1895. However, while the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes up to three individuals for specific discoveries, the Prix Galien honors the collaborative spirit and multidisciplinary progress that define modern biopharmaceutical innovation.

For more information, visit www.galienfoundation.org.

Follow the Foundation on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/GalienFoundation/
https://x.com/GalienFdn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-galien-foundation/ 

Media Contact:
Kara Bradley
Finn Partners
[email protected]
646-213-7243

SOURCE The Galien Foundation