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NEW YORK CITY— The
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation held its 2nd
annual luncheon and symposium – “Hope on the Horizon:
New Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease – at the Jumeirah
Essex House on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. With
Executive Chairs, Leonard A. Lauder, Lynn
Forester de Rothschild, and Nancy and Mel Goodes,
and Honorary Chairs Bonnie Pfeifer
Evans and Alice Shure, the event brought
together approximately 275 guests to raise $600,000 for
Alzheimer’s drug discovery research. Paula Zahn,
acclaimed journalist and newscaster was emcee. A door
prize drawing raised over $50,000 and featured an
Imperial Shih Tzu puppy. 100% of the proceeds from
this event will be used to fund promising drug research
and early clinical studies for Alzheimer’s disease.
The Luncheon
featured presentations focused on the urgency of finding
breakthrough treatments to detect, prevent, and cure
Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In the
11:00 am presentation, Joan Sutton Straus
introduced Dr. Howard Fillit, who presented
a progress report on the development of Alzheimer’s
drugs. Leonard A. Lauder, Co-Chairman of the
Foundation, welcomed guests at the Luncheon.
Bonnie Pfeifer Evans and Alice Shure, trustees of
the Charles Evans Foundation, presented the inaugural
Charles Evans Award for Excellence to Dr. Daniel
Skovronsky, Founder, President, and CEO of Avid
Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc. This award recognizes
individuals whose contributions have significantly
advanced the field of Alzheimer’s drug discovery.
Following the award presentation, Paula Zahn
conducted an onstage interview with Dr. Eric Kandel,
distinguished neuroscientist, world-renowned researcher,
and winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine. The luncheon concluded with special
remarks from Mel Goodes, former Chairman and CEO
of Warner-Lambert.
“The
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation has one goal —
accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat
and cure Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and
cognitive aging,” Foundation Executive Director Dr.
Howard Fillit said in remarks from the podium. “Our
approach to research funding is not a traditional one.
We are proactive, insist on accountability from our
grantee partners, and we prioritize important work that
other funders can’t or won’t support. We could not do
this without our donors and are so grateful for your
support.”
“Our strategy
is distinctive. We focus on innovative Alzheimer’s drug
research in biotechnology companies and at universities,
financing programs to catapult successful projects to
the next stage of development,” Leonard A. Lauder told
guests. “Investors with deeper pockets can then step
forward to support our grantees in bringing new drugs to
market and getting them in the hands of patients.”
About the ADDF:
Founded in 1998 by Leonard and Ronald Lauder, the ADDF
awards grants to leading scientists conducting
breakthrough drug discovery and early clinical research.
The sole mission of the Foundation is to accelerate the
discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure
Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and cognitive
aging. To date, the ADDF has granted more than $50
million to fund over 340 Alzheimer’s drug discovery
programs and clinical trials at academic centers and
biotechnology companies in 18 countries. 100% of
funds raised are used directly for Alzheimer’s drug
research and related programs.
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NOTABLE GUESTS
Robert and Renée Belfer
Alexandra and Arnaud de Borchgrave
Lisa and James Cohen
Beth Rudin DeWoody
Lady Lynn and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild
Bonnie Pfeifer Evans
Howard Fillit, MD, Executive Director, ADDF
Paul Fribourg
Nancy and Mel Goodes
Sarah and Geoff Gund
Ted Hartley
Chris Johnson
Karen Johnson (Mrs. Ron Johnson)
Eric Kandel, MD
Leonard A. Lauder, Co-Chairman, ADDF
Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder
William Lauder
Alexandra Lebenthal
Elise and Marc Lefkowitz
Frederick A. Melhado
Jennifer Miller
Daria Myers
Janet C. Ross
Alice Shure
Daniel Skovronsky, MD
Peter J. Solomon
Richard Solomon
Joan Sutton Straus
Erin King Sweeney
Harriet Weintraub
Paula Zahn
Alison Zaino
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