Good evening and welcome.  On behalf of Roche I would like to start by thanking everyone for being here this evening.  I would like to thank the organisers of the Prix Galien award, both here in Portugal and internationally, for hosting this important event here at the beautiful Pal�cio Foz.  Finally, I would also like to thank my fellow speakers.

The Prix Galien award was established to recognise innovation and acknowledge those who have made significant advances in pharmaceutical research.  I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of everyone who has been involved in the development of FUZEON who have helped us realise the potential of this remarkable drug. 

Research and development are essential if we are to discover new medicines and improve existing therapies for the benefit of people across the world.   At Roche we focus our efforts on bringing truly novel medicines to patients, particularly in areas of high unmet medicinal need.

In the field of HIV/AIDS, the development of anti-HIV medicines has radically changed the way we view this disease.  In many countries the introduction of anti-HIV medicines has resulted in HIV/AIDS being treated as a chronic illness, not as a life-threatening disease � this is a huge achievement.  Roche is proud to have played a significant role in HIV/AIDS research since 1986.  Our efforts have resulted in the discovery of two new classes of anti-HIV medicines, Protease Inhibitors, with the development of Invirase (saquinavir), and Fusion Inhibitors, with the development of FUZEON (enfuvirtide).

Fusion inhibitors are the first new class of anti-HIV medicines to be developed in over eight years (since 1996).  They work in unique way by blocking HIV before it enters and infects healthy immune cells, where other therapies work by preventing replication of HIV after it has infected a cell.

With the burden of resistance to anti-HIV drugs becoming an increasing problem in the west, the introduction of FUZEON represents a new treatment possibility for the growing number of people who have used other classes of anti-HIV medicines and are most in need of new options. 

For many people taking FUZEON it has made a huge difference to their lives.  A UK patient who I recently met said that as a result of taking FUZEON his CD4 count had increased from just 16 to 335, the highest it has been in 16 years, and his viral load had dropped from 1.3 million to being undetectable.   When he describes the impact FUZEON has had on his life he uses phrase like, �I can now dream again and pursue a whole new life�, �I feel inspired to help others take control of their HIV/AIDS�, �I thought my life was coming to an end, but now I can look and plan for future�.

These sorts of comments cannot help but inspire and motivate us to continue to develop new and innovative medicines.  We acknowledge that the development of medicines forms only a part of the solution, and we must encourage others to embrace innovation and utilise the pioneering medicines that are available. 

So, let me end by thanking everyone involved for making this award possible.  Again our sincere thanks go to Prix Galien, and also to all of my colleagues at Roche and at Trimeris without whom the development of this revolutionary treatment would not have been possible.  I must give special thanks to Dr Dani Bolognesi and Dr Miklos Salgo, to all of the trial investigators and to the HIV community for their support.  But most importantly I would like to thank the patients who took part in the development of FUZEON who showed real courage and commitment to make this achievement possible. 

Thank you