Almac continues winning streak at Irish Pharma Industry Awards 2014

Craigavon-based pharmaceutical development company Almac has continued its successful run of winning awards after lifting a top title at the 2014 Irish Pharma Industry Awards.

The global company’s Diagnostics business unit won the Research and Development Achievement Award for its work on the company’s proprietary DNA Damage Repair Deficiency (DDRD) test which helps predict which breast cancer patients are likely to benefit from chemotherapy based on their genetic make-up.

Last year the DDRD technology and intellectual property were exclusively licensed to US-company Genomic Health to further develop, validate and subsequently commercialize the test in a multi-million pound deal.

The Irish Pharma Industry Awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the most original and innovative individuals and companies that demonstrate excellence in the Irish Pharma sector. Almac beat off competition from other successful life science and biotech companies, including Aquila Bioscience, Biokinetic Europe and Innopharma Labs to win the R&D award.

Professor Paul Harkin, Managing Director of Almac’s Diagnostics business unit, said: “We are delighted to receive the R&D Achievement award in relation to our highly successful and ground-breaking DDRD test.

“Our developments and expertise in this field have attracted global attention and it is tremendously satisfying when the Irish Pharma Industry Awards judging panel recognized and rewarded our efforts. Huge congratulations to the entire Diagnostics team on winning this award.”

As well as winning two categories in the Aer Lingus Viscount Awards in London, Almac has also been selected as a National Champion in the European Business Awards and was named as the winner of the Best International Business in the Ulster Final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. The company now goes forward for all-island judging against provincial winners in the International Business category of the Business Achievers Awards. Winners will be announced on December 4 at a gala event in Dublin.