Luminous Award Winners Highlight the Importance of Genetic Testing and Pre-Screening for Potential Cancers

Indianapolis (ots/PRNewswire) -

- South African and Australian reporters named winners of annual
Luminous Award

The Luminous Award was created by Lilly to honor "enlightened,
intelligent and inspiring" reporting in the field of oncology. Eli
Lilly and Company is proud to present the 2006 Luminous Award to
South African journalist Toni Younghusband of Shape magazine for her
article entitled "My Chance for Life" detailing a 25 year-old woman's
decision to have a double mastectomy following genetic testing that
led to the identification of a gene that causes breast cancer. The
second place Luminous Award goes to Jill Margo, reporter with The
Australian Financial Review, for her weekly account of a local
businessman's struggle with prostate cancer that was overcome
successfully because of the importance he placed on good health and
pre-screening. The announcement of the award winners coincides with
the 31st European Society for Medical Oncology Congress currently
taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.

With cancer as the third leading cause of death worldwide, Lilly
is quickly emerging as a leader in cancer care to address unmet
patient needs. "We received 120 entries into the Luminous Award from
journalists in 16 countries, and many of the articles submitted
detail very moving accounts of cancer journeys from the patient's
perspective. We want to congratulate the journalists covering these
stories for their professionalism in dealing with this disease and
thank the patients who have been impacted by cancer for the courage
to share their personal accounts. There is no question their stories
have inspired and made a difference in the lives of others sharing
the same experience," said Garry Nicholson, platform leader, Lilly
Oncology.

"The quality of the entries received this year was exceptionally
high, with significant emphasis on cancer prevention," said John
Stubbs, chairman of advocacy group Cancer Voices, Australia and a
competition judge. "The growing interest in the competition is
indicative of the public's growing interest in cancer."

The Luminous Award independent judging panel is composed of judges
from all over the world and, in addition to Stubbs, included Madame
Monique de St Jean, co-president of the Federation Nationale des
Comites Feminins de Lutte Contre le Cancer, France; Takeo Sekihara,
board of the Japanese Cancer Society, Japan; Jaime G. de la Garza,
M.D., research physician, National Institute of Cancerology (INCAN),
Mexico; Dolores Isla, M.D., Lozano Blesa Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain;
and Maggie Hampshire, managing editor, OncoLink, United States.

In addition to giving awards to the global winners, Lilly also
presented two highly commended certificates to journalists from Japan
and Hungary for their contributions to the Luminous Award. Japanese
journalist Kenichi Hanioka was recognized for his article titled "Big
Gaps of Cancer Survival Rates in Japanese Hospitals; Save 40,000
people a year by fundamental reforms" calling for an improved
standardization of care across Japanese hospitals following the
introduction of the Cancer Act. The second highly commended
certificate went to Hungarian journalist Zsofia Tamassy, for her
ground-breaking article in Wellness magazine titled "It can Happen to
You," showcasing through provocative photographs and personal
accounts the journeys of ordinary women diagnosed with breast cancer,
something never done previously in the Hungarian media.

The winner of the Luminous Award is given a choice of one of two
prizes. The first choice is the opportunity to be enlightened by the
work of a leading oncologist or cancer researcher in either Boston,
London, New York, Paris or Sydney on a seven day-trip for two people.
The second choice is a cash donation of 10,000 Euro to be made in the
form of a scholarship in the winner's name, to help a student
continue his or her studies to become a journalist and enlighten
others through his/her work. The runner-up also is given the choice
of one of two prizes, the first option being the opportunity to be
enlightened by the work of a leading oncologist or cancer researcher
in New York or London, on a five-day trip for two. The second option
is a cash donation of 5,000 Euro to be made in the form of a
scholarship.

The international Luminous Award competition was open this year to
journalists reporting for newspapers, consumer magazines,
newsletters, websites and broadcast outlets. Entries are judged on a
series of criteria including news value, the ability to stimulate
awareness about advances in oncology, effective communication for the
intended audience, and creativity.

About Lilly Oncology, a Division of Eli Lilly and Company

For more than four decades, Lilly Oncology has been collaborating
with cancer researchers to deliver innovative treatment choices and
valuable programs to patients and physicians worldwide. Inspired by
the courageous patients living with cancer, Lilly Oncology is
providing treatments that are considered global standards of care and
developing a broad portfolio of novel targeted therapies to
accelerate the pace and progress of cancer care.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a
growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides
answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the
world's most urgent medical needs.

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Contact:
Christine Van Marter (Lilly), +1-317-651-1473,
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