Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership
Thursday, February 5, 2026 | Hilton East Brunswick
Now accepting nominations for the 2026 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership. Deadline for nominations is October 24, 2025!
Named for Dr. Sol J. Barer, former BioNJ Chair, former Chair & CEO of Celgene Corporation and Board Chair for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the 2026 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership will be presented by Dr. Barer at BioNJ’s 33st Annual Dinner Meeting and Innovation Celebration on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Hilton East Brunswick.
The Award recognizes outstanding biopharma industry business leaders who have made significant contributions to his or her own organization as well as to the growth and prosperity of the industry in New Jersey and beyond.Now accepting nominations for the 2026 Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation and Leadership. Deadline for nominations is October 24, 2025!
2008 Winner
Sol J. Barer, Ph.D.
Former Chair
Celgene Corp.
2009 Winner
Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D.
Former President & CEO
Genmab
2010 Winner
John H. Johnson
Former Chair,
President & CEO
Dendreon Corp.
2011 Winner
John F. Crowley
Executive Chair
Amicus Therapeutics
2012 Winner
Paul G. Thomas
Founder & Former CEO
Roka Bioscience
2013 Winner
Francois Nader, M.D.
Former President & CEO
NPS Pharmaceuticals
2014 Winner
Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D.
Former CEO
PTC Therapeutics
2015 Winner
Abraham Abuchowski, Ph.D.
Former CEO
Prolong Pharmaceuticals
2016 Winner
Clive Meanwell, M.D., Ph.D.
Former CEO
The Medicines Company
2017 Winner
Fred Hassan
Partner & Managing Director
Warburg Pincus
2018 Winner
Dr. Andrew Pecora
Former Chief
Innovation Officer
Hackensack Meridian Health
2019 Winner
Dr. William N. Hait
Executive Vice President, Chief External Innovation & Medical Officer
Johnson & Johnson
2020 Winner
Kenneth C. Frazier
Executive Chair & Former CEO
Merck & Co.
2022 Winner
Honorable
Judith M. Persichilli, R.N.
B.S.N., M.A.
NJ Commissioner of Health
2023 Winner
David S. Perlin, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer &
Executive Vice President
Hackensack Meridian Center
for Discovery & Innovation
2024 Winner
William H. Lewis, J.D., MBA
Chair & CEO, Insmed
2025 Winner
Jayne C. Gershkowitz
Chief Patient Advocate, Amicus Therapeutics
