LA JOLLA, Calif., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Scripps Research Institute Professor Richard A. Lerner, MD, has won a prestigious international honor, the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research, according to an announcement made today by the Prince of Asturias Foundation. Lerner shares the award with British biochemist Sir Gregory Winter, PhD.

Sometimes called the "Spanish Nobel Prize," the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research is bestowed for findings that "represent a significant contribution to the progress and welfare of mankind." Winners receive 50,000 Euros (about $62,000), a diploma, an insignia bearing the foundation's coat of arms, and a sculpture specially created for the awards by the late Spanish artist Joan Miro.

"This honor for Richard is richly deserved," said Scripps Research President and CEO Michael A. Marletta, PhD. "His discoveries have had a very significant impact on the treatment of disease and I am delighted that this recognition has come to him."

"It is my honor to accept this prestigious award together with Sir Greg," said Lerner, "This is a wonderful recognition for the field of immunochemistry and combinatorial antibody libraries and all that they have contributed to human health."

The announcement of the jury was broadcast live from Oviedo, Spain, to more than 150 countries at noon, local time.

The foundation's statement reads, "The researchers Gregory Winter and Richard A. Lerner stand at the forefront of research on the immune system. The advances in the use of antibodies as therapeutic tools have provided new ways of preventing and treating immune disorders, degenerative diseases and different types of tumours. In many cases, the use of antibodies has alleviated the suffering of patients and has halted the progression of the disease. These researchers have managed to create a synthetic immune system in the test tube, as well as demonstrating its preventive and therapeutic potential due to exceeding the natural antibody repertoire the human body can generate."

This work has resulted in two drugs currently on the market, as well as other compounds currently in clinical trials. The drug Humira (adalimumab), marketed by Abbott, provides a treatment for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and plaque psoriasis. Humira is now reported to be the top selling drug in the world.

Benlysta (belimumab), which was developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences, was approved in the United States for the treatment of the most common type of lupusa chronic, life-threatening autoimmune diseasein the spring of last year. At that time, Benlysta became the first new drug for lupus in 50 years.

41 Nominations This year, 41 nominations from Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Spain were in the running for the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research. This prize is the fourth of eight awards bestowed each year by the Prince of Asturias Foundation. The others are in the fields of the arts, communications and humanities, literature, sports, social sciences, international cooperation, and concord (peace).

The Prince of Asturias Foundation was founded in the city of Oviedo on September 24, 1980, at a formal ceremony presided over by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, heir to the throne of Spain, who was accompanied by his parents, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain.

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Scripps Research Institute's Richard A. Lerner Wins Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research