The scientific and medical communities learned with profound sadness of the passing of Professor Pierre Joly on April 29, 2026, at the age of ninety-six.

With his death, one of the leading figures who helped shape the development of medical research, the pharmaceutical industry, and health institutions in France during the second half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century has passed away. His remarkable career stands as a testament to a lifelong commitment to science, medical progress, and the public good.

A pharmacist by training, former intern in the Paris hospitals, distinguished academic, business leader, author, and devoted institutional servant, Pierre Joly dedicated his life to promoting scientific excellence and fostering the conditions essential to the advancement of biomedical research. Firmly convinced that research constitutes the foundation of any ambitious health policy, he consistently championed its independence, quality, and influence.

His leadership at Roussel Uclaf, where he served notably as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, exemplified his unique ability to combine scientific rigor, strategic vision, and a profound sense of responsibility. His influence extended well beyond France through the positions he held within major professional organizations, including the French Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA).

Yet the significance of his contribution cannot be measured solely by the offices he held. Above all, Pierre Joly was a servant of science and a steadfast advocate for the common good. He believed that medical progress required not only excellence in research but also exemplary governance, unwavering ethical standards, and a lasting relationship of trust between the scientific community and society.

This conviction found particularly distinguished expression during his presidency of the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale” from 1993 to 2010. Under his leadership, the Foundation strengthened its role as one of France’s foremost supporters of biomedical research while reaffirming the principles of scientific excellence, rigorous management, and long-term vision. His stewardship made a lasting contribution to the growth, credibility, and influence of the institution.

Professor Pierre Joly was also an indefatigable advocate for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Convinced that research could not fully achieve its mission unless it was understood by the public, he actively promoted initiatives dedicated to scientific communication. Through the creation and development of prestigious awards in this field, he helped bring science closer to society and contributed significantly to the advancement of scientific literacy.

A careful historian of his own field, he devoted several works to the history of French medical research and to the essential role played by foundations, philanthropy, and civil society in supporting scientific progress. Faithful to these convictions until the final years of his life, he chose to dedicate the royalties from his publications to the future support of medical research.

A member of both the French National Academy of Pharmacy and the French National Academy of Medicine, which he served with distinction as President, he brought to these institutions his experience, intellectual breadth, and unwavering commitment to the major challenges of public health. As a founding member of the Foundation of the National Academy of Medicine (Fondation de l’Académie de Médecine FAM), he played a decisive role in its development and in the strengthening of its international influence.

Professor Pierre Joly embodied the highest values of the scientific community: intellectual rigor, independence of judgment, dedication to the transmission of knowledge, a profound sense of duty, and a deep concern for humanity. Those who had the privilege of working alongside him will remember a man of great culture, exceptional courtesy, and unwavering fidelity to his principles and commitments.

His legacy endures. It lives on through the institutions he helped build, the researchers he supported, the initiatives he inspired, and the values he upheld throughout his life with constancy and conviction.

The Academy and the foundation of the Academy bow respectfully before his memory and extends to his family, loved ones, colleagues, and collaborators its deepest sympathy and most sincere condolences.

May the memory of Professor Pierre Joly remain forever associated with the excellence of French medical research and with the ideal of service that guided his entire life.

Rest in peace, Professor Joly.

 

Nicolas PESCHANSKI MD, PhD

President HEMS Scientifc Committee, Fondation de l'Académie de Médecine

Emergency Physician, Rennes University Hospital

Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rennes

 

Médecin général Henri JULIEN MD.

Académie nationale de médecine

Past President de la Société Française de Médecine de Catastrophe

  

Abdo Khoury MD, PhD

Professor of Emergency Medicine, Université Marie & Louis Pasteur, Besançon , France

HEMS scientific committee, Fondation de l’academie de Médecine

Past President, The European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)