Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story
of that man skilled in all ways of contending,
the wanderer, harried for years on end,
after he plundered the stronghold
on the proud height of
So begins Homer's Odyssey. And so began last night's first annual Center for Medicine in the Public Interest Odyssey Award gala dinner.
The dinner (held at the posh Short Hills Hilton) honored Sol Barer, PhD, CEO and Chairman of Celgene, for his lifetime of dedication to the cause of medical innovation. (Watch this space soon for his complete remarks.) Sol is a visionary and the evening was all about him -- but he is all about innovation in the service of patient care.
And while Dr. Barer got the trophy, the hero of the evening was Elijah Alexander, ex-NFL linebacker, husband, father of two -- and survivor of multiple myeloma. (For more on Alexander's fight against multiple myeloma, visit the "Tackle Multiple Myeloma Foundation" website here.)
Elijah talked about his cancer, about the impact it had on his family -- and how innovation saved his life (specifically via Revlimid). He cried. Everyone cried. Even John Stossel, Mr. "Give Me A Break" (and the evening's emcee), misted over.
The evening was all about the importance and urgency of innovation.
Yes -- even innovation via the resurrection of thalidomide.
President Obama says he want to "cure cancer." He should talk with Sol Barer.
But first he should listen to Elijah Alexander.
Sol's Trophy and Elijah's Cup
Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization promoting innovative solutions that advance medical progress, reduce health disparities, extend life and make health care more affordable, preventive and patient-centered. CMPI also provides the public, policymakers and the media a reliable source of independent scientific analysis on issues ranging from personalized medicine, food and drug safety, health care reform and comparative effectiveness.
