NEW YORK, NY: PM360, the premier information resource for marketing decision makers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics, and medical device sectors, today announced the winners of its 7th Annual ELITE Awards.

The ELITE (Exceptional • Leaders • Innovators • Transformers • Entrepreneurs) represent the most influential people in the healthcare and life sciences industries today. Out of more than 500 submissions, 100 winners were selected across 19 categories.

This year, a new category was created to specifically honor COVID Heroes, including healthcare professionals, researchers, or other life sciences leaders who stepped up during the pandemic to better help patients, aid HCPs, develop treatments, or find new ways to allow their own organization to continue to operate and thrive during this time. Nominees were evaluated and selected by the PM360 editorial staff based on their accomplishments; testimonials from their bosses, clients, and colleagues; and supporting evidence that reflects the impact of their efforts.

Ultimately, the ELITE 100 represent a group of individuals and marketing teams who have made a significant impact on the healthcare industry throughout their careers and especially in the past year during the pandemic.

“As the pandemic surged across the globe in 2020, all eyes were on the healthcare and life sciences industries in search for answers, treatments, vaccines, and hope—and the very best in our industry were able to deliver all of that,” says Anna Stashower, CEO and Publisher of PM360. “While every year our ELITE winners demonstrate the power of the life sciences to impact lives, this year’s winners had to do so by overcoming unprecedented challenges in record times. Their incredible work helped to navigate HCPs, patients, and doctors through this pandemic and get us to where we are now as restrictions are slowly being lifted and we start to return to more of the things we love.”

PM360 also selects one person as the “Uber ELITE,” or the individual among the nominees who best personifies the criteria of a PM360 ELITE. As previously announced, this year that honor goes to Stéphane Bancel, CEO, Moderna. Under his leadership, Moderna was able to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 with an efficacy of 94% in under a year. Previously, the fastest a vaccine had ever been developed was the four years it took for the mumps vaccine. As of April 2021, the company has delivered approximately 132 million doses globally with plans to deliver a base of 800 million by the end of 2021 with the potential to reach one billion doses.

The winners were profiled in PM360’s May 2021 issue. You can read their profiles online here.