Award Ceremony

2024 Edition

Carl H. June, MD, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at this important institution, has been been awarded today as the winner of the IV Edition of “ABARCA PRIZE”, the Doctor Juan Abarca International Award for Medical Sciences for his research and pioneering development of a revolutionary strategy to treat blood cancers, based on cell engineering.

It is known as CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) cell therapy and is an example of what’s popularly known as immunotherapy treatment because it uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

This finding opens the door to addressing not only blood cancers but also other solid neoplasms, autoimmune pathologies (such as lupus) and many other non-oncological diseases. The development of CAR T cell therapy is one of the most relevant medical-scientific advances of our time, comparable to the discovery of antibiotics, chemotherapy, or genetic research.

During his stay in Madrid, and given the relevance of his research, Dr. June was received by H.M. The King of Spain at Palacio de la Zarzuela, in a private audience in which Felipe VI congratulated the renowned immunologist for his research and for the ‘ABARCA PRIZE’ award.

In the award ceremony, Dr. June received the award from the Secretary of State for Health, Mr. Javier Padilla Bernáldez, and gave an exciting speech in which he stressed that “receiving this award is not just a personal milestone. It reflects the collective spirit and tireless dedication of countless people – researchers, doctors, patients and families – who dare to dream of a world where cancer is no longer a formidable foe but a conquerable adversary.”

The ‘ABARCA PRIZE’ award ceremony in its fourth edition was attended by more than 180 guests, including numerous public personalities such as José María Álvarez Pallete, chairman of Telefónica; Elena Henríquez de Luna, president of GSK Spain; Carlos Murillo, president of Pfizer Spain, Patrick Wallach, general manager of Roche Farma Spain; Rick Suarez, president of AstraZeneca Spain; Iñaki Peralta, CEO of Sanitas; Ana Pastor, president of AMA; Alessandro Salem, CEO of Mediaset Spain; José Manuel Inchausti, vice president of Mapfre; and Pedro J. Ramírez, president of El Español.

Photo gallery of the fourth edition Abarca Prize – 2024