Gustave Roussy Prize: Pierre Fabre, founding sponsor of the research‑focused award, honors a leading researcher
5 February 2026
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the 2026 Gustave Roussy Prize was awarded to Prof. Luis Diaz Jr., an international figure in oncology whose work has transformed the care of thousands of patients worldwide.
As the founding patron of the Prize, Pierre Fabre salutes a major scientific breakthrough and reaffirms its commitment alongside the research teams shaping the future of precision medicine.
A Prize that Recognizes a Therapeutic Revolution
Prof. Diaz’s research demonstrated that tumors presenting DNA instability—more specifically microsatellite instability (MSI)—respond particularly well to immunotherapy.
This discovery paved the way for a paradigm shift: for the first time, a treatment was indicated based on a genomic characteristic rather than the type of cancer.
Validated by U.S. health authorities as early as 2017, this approach is now considered one of the foundational pillars of precision medicine.
Pierre Fabre, a Committed Partner for Innovation in Oncology
By supporting this prize since its creation in 2024, Pierre Fabre reaffirms its role as a key player in the European health and oncology research ecosystem.
The international Gustave Roussy Award is far more than a scientific distinction: it is a powerful lever for accelerating the development of precision oncology. We congratulate Professor Luis Diaz Jr., whose work illustrates the capacity of research to generate deeply innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. As a committed partner alongside Gustave Roussy, we are proud to contribute to this momentum by supporting projects that turn discoveries into concrete solutions for patients.
This commitment is fully aligned with the Group’s mission: to sustainably improve patients’ health and quality of life, particularly in rare, complex, or next‑generation‑treatment‑requiring cancers.
Key Advances for Patients
Prof. Diaz’s contributions span several areas that are now essential in oncology:
1. Liquid biopsy
A pioneer of the concept, he demonstrated that circulating tumor DNA enables:
- earlier detection of relapse,
- more accurate assessment of treatment response,
- identification of minimal residual disease..
Now used in many cancers, this technology is transforming monitoring and treatment adaptation.
2. Immunotherapy guided by tumor genetics
In 2015, he led a prospective clinical trial demonstrating the exceptional efficacy of anti‑PD‑1 therapies in tumors with mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), regardless of the organ of origin.This led to the first “agnostic” approval in oncology.
3. Less invasive and more targeted strategies
In localized MMRd digestive cancers, immunotherapy alone has sometimes made it possible to avoid heavy treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy.
A Prize to Accelerate the Medicine of Tomorrow
Endowed with €200,000, the Gustave Roussy Prize honors a researcher whose discoveries have a concrete impact on patients’ lives.
For Pierre Fabre, this support reflects a shared vision:
- encouraging excellence in research,
- fostering breakthrough technologies,
- accelerating the availability of innovative solutions.