Dr Simmons Prize

For more than 30 years, we have worked alongside professionals in the healthcare and life sciences sector. In a complex and constantly changing regulatory environment, we support them on a daily basis to answer the legal questions that arise on their path to health innovation. Our multidisciplinary team, which covers all areas of business law, is made up of both lawyers and health professionals. This combination of expertise is unique to the market and enables us to offer an incomparable legal service in the sector.

Building on our commitment to the sector, we are proud to launch the first edition of the Dr Simmons Prize, created to reward the most innovative start-ups in the health industry.

Aware of the difficulties that start-ups sometimes encounter when developing and financing their health innovation(s), we know that quality legal support is essential to the success of a project.

The winning company will receive one year of tailor-made legal support worth €50,000 and will also benefit from the visibility of the Simmons network and its partners, France Biotech and Pharmaceutiques.

“We want to put our legal skills at the service of start-ups working to develop new technologies and health innovations.”

Alexandre Regniault, Partner and Head of the Health and Life Sciences sector.

Please note, applications are now closed.

How will we select the winners?

We will select the winners based on the following criteria:

• Innovative nature of the project
• Benefit to public health
• Interest in the care ecosystem
• Economic potential of the project

Read more on the practical information as well as the eligibility criteria in the rules of procedure of the Prize. As part of this award, Simmons & Simmons processes your personal data. For more information on how your data is processed and how to use your rights, please see the Applicant Information Notice.

Dates you need to know

• Application process: From 2 October to 2 November 2023
• Announcement of the finalists: 20 November 2023
• Pitching in front of the jury and announcement of the winner: 28 November 2023

Judging panel

• Franck Mouthon, President of France Biotech and CEO Theranexus
• Pierre Sanchez, General Director of PR Editions and Director of Pharmaceutiques
• Guillaume-Denis Faure, Partner, Simmons & Simmons
• Alexandre Regniault, Partner and Head of the Healthcare and Life Sciences at Simmons & Simmons
• Simonetta Giordano, Partner, Simmons & Simmons
• Pr Anne-Catherine Perroy, Of Counsel, Simmons & Simmons
• Dr Alain Rimailho, Scientific and Medical Consultant, Simmons & Simmons

For any questions, please contact: Guillaume-Denis Faure, Alexandre Regniault and Laetitia Lebray (press contact).