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Boston Scientific, Abbott and more: The Prix Galien MedTech Award Winners
The Prix Galien USA Awards For Medical Technology
Healthcare Sales & Marketing has run a number of articles on the astonishing innovations emerging all the time in our industry. Last issue we featured the Cleveland Clinic Top Ten, a celebration of advances they consider most promising. In this issue we are happy to present the winners of the Prix Galien awards.
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But award winners are not the only innovators worth talking about. You may know of people who have been responsible for inspiring new ideas in healthcare. We want to exhibit more of these in every issue. So please send us your nominees to our associate publisher, Natalie Newcamp, at nnewcamp@hsandm.com.
The Prix Galien was created in France in 1970 by a pharmacist named Roland Mehl. Its aim was to promote significant advances in pharmaceutical research. Since its creation, the Galien award has grown into a major event. It is considered as the industry’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Until his passing in July of 2016, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel was Honorary President Emeritus of The Galien Foundation.) The foundation and award were named in honor of Greek anatomist, physiologist, clinician and researcher Galen, the father of modern medicine and pharmacology. The Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony was launched in 2007, first honoring unique medical products, later devices, and finally, individuals who have impacted patient care through innovation. It awards prizes for Best Pharmaceutical Agent (i.e. small molecule), Best Biotechnology Product, and Best Medical Technology approved by the FDA in the past five years. Up to three prizes may be awarded annually in each of these categories.
“The Prix Galien is a welcome initiative to stimulate creative research and promote excellence.” — Barack Obama, President, United States (2008)
Before the candidates can qualify for the award, their products need to be FDA approved for market within the last five years. They also have to show major potential to impact healthcare. In 2018, the foundation chose 10 nominees for “Best Medical Technology.” Below is a selection of those. (Our thanks to Medical Design and Outsourcing for their assistance with the content of this article. For a full list of nominees and their product descriptions, go here.)
WINNER FOR BEST MEDICAL DEVICE: Boston Scientific Watchman, left atrial appendage closure device
The Watchman from Boston Scientific is a left atrial appendage closure device that helps reduce stroke risk. It’s a first-of-its-kind, proven alternative to long-term warfarin therapy for stroke risk reduction in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. It’s delivered through a transfermoral approach that is designed to close the left atrial appendage (LAA) to prevent migration of blood clots. By preventing blood clots, the device reduces the risk of stroke and systemic embolism. WATCHMAN is engineered to conform to the unique anatomy of the LAA.
Tim Lane, Manager, Interventional Cardiology Business, Boston Scientific, accepting the award.
Abbott FreeStyle Libre: Flash glucose monitoring system
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre System is a glucose measuring system that eliminates the need for finger sticks or finger stick calibrations. It measures glucose levels through a small sensor that is applied to the back of a user’s upper arm. The sensor is the size of two stacked quarters and gives real-time readings for up to 10 days, according to the company. The sensor is also able to read glucose levels through clothes. Each scan provides three pieces of data, including real-time glucose results, an eight hour historical trend and a trend arrow showing the direction their glucose is headed. The accompanying touchscreen reader can hold up to 90 days’ worth of data to allow people to track glucose levels over time.
BrainScope Company BrainScope One
BrainScope’s BrainScope One system is an easy-to-use, non-invasive, handheld platform that allows physicians to assess head injuries at point-of-care. The device is FDA-cleared and is based on EEG technology. BrainScope One is non-invasive and painless and can be used on patients who are aged 18-85 years old within three days of a head injury. It measures and interprets brain activity and neurocognitive function to help physicians make clinical diagnoses.
The Omnigraft Dermal Regeneration Matrix from Integra Lifesciences is an advanced bilayer dermal regeneration matrix that treats diabetic foot ulcers. It is the only FDA-approved product that can regenerate native dermal tissue, according to the company. The patch has a built-in silicone layer that serves as a temporary epidermal layer and provides immediate coverage for wound protection. It can be removed between two and three weeks. Under the silicone layer is a collagen/ chrondroitin-6-sulfate matrix that acts as a dermal replacement layer. The Omnigraft features a bioengineered scaffold that promotes dermal regeneration and is designed with a controlled porosity and degradation rate. The Omnigraft Dermal Regeneration Matrix is designed to be used for treating partial and full thickness neuropathic diabetic foot
Koning Corporation KBCT 1000
The KBCT from Koning is a breast imaging device. It offers high-contrast, real 3D images of the breast with spatial resolution and no painful compression in a 10-second exposure with radiation levels that are the same as normal mammograms. The real 3D image features isotropic images in a 3D display to allow clinicians to evaluate tissue from any angle, eliminating overlapping structures. KBCT’s 3D scan is non-contrast, contrast enhanced and shows blood vessels and calcifications.
Medtronic Implantable System for Remodulin
Medtronic’s implantable system for Remodulin is designed to treat patients who have pulmonary arterial hypertension. The system features the company’s SynchroMed II implantable drug infusion pump with a newly developed intravascular catheter that deliver Remodulin intravenously to patients who have previously received the drug through an external infusion pump. Medtronic announced on July 31 that the system received FDA approval.
In medical device, pharma, bio and other areas of healthcare, great ideas are helping millions all the time. Please send us your suggestions for our ongoing Innovators column: write to
