National Bioeconomy Blueprint

Posted under bioeconomy, biotechnology ind, Blog, Companies, Corporate, Diagnostics, economic growth, economy, Funding, innovation, Jim's Corner, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, President Obama, Public Policy, Startups, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

Today, the White House released its National Bioeconomy Blueprint.  The Blueprint defines the bioeconomy as, “economic activity that is fueled by research and innovation in the biological sciences” and identifies the bioeconomy as a priority for the Obama Administration. BIO provided input and submitted ideas to the Administration after it announced the development of the Blueprint last Fall. While the Administration has largely been focused on advancing innovation in areas such as electronic devices, social media and solar energy, we’ve been ringing the bell saying, ‘Don’t forget us.’  The blueprint is a sign that the message has been received.

The Blueprint notes the tremendous potential of the bioeconomy for fostering economic growth as well as for providing critical societal benefits: “It can allow Americans to live longer, healthier lives, reduce our dependence on oil, address key environmental challenges, transform manu­facturing processes, and increase the productivity and scope of the agricultural sector while growing new jobs and industries.” Well said, indeed.

The report also notes that a growing U.S. population requires, “increased health services and more resources such as food, animal feed, fiber for clothing and housing, and sources of energy and chemicals for manufacturing. In short, it needs a new and more potent bioeconomy fueled by innovative ideas and practices that can help address these needs in new, more powerful ways.”

We appreciate the President’s recognition of the need to clear the path for American innovation and ingenuity and unleash the tremendous promise of biotechnology to help solve many of the biggest challenges facing our nation today and foster economic growth throughout the United States.

Already, biotechnology is enabling patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s – and all American families – to have a higher quality of life, in a healthy and safe environment. As the new report notes, ‘The U.S. bioeconomy is all around us: new drugs and diagnostics for improved human health, higher-yielding food crops, advanced biofuels to reduce dependency on oil, and biobased chemical intermediates.’

The report’s high-level goals are consistent with many of BIO’s primary goals, including supporting translational research, reducing regulatory barriers for biotech products and emerging technologies, improving coordination across federal agencies, reforming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and expanding the bioeconomy workforce.

We look forward to hearing more about specific proposals for accomplishing these goals. And we will challenge the Administration when its policies are inconsistent with this Blueprint.

What do you think about the Blueprint? What is missing that will help drive continued biotech innovation?

Bringing Hope to Patients

Posted under Biotechnology, Blog, branding, Companies, Corporate, Diagnostics, Funding, Health, Health Care, healthcare, Jim's Corner, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, patient, patient advocates, patients, Pharmaceuticals, Startups, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

No-one expected Hope Bartley to survive after she was born three months early. Thanks to extraordinary biotech medicine, she did. Alena Galan, age 14, is one of only a few thousand patients with a rare disease called MPS. Thanks to the hard work of leading biotech scientists and the approval of a new treatment, she now has a chance to lead a normal life. Lori Lober experienced the unthinkable when she was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Now, 11 years after her diagnosis and treatment, Lori is full of life…and hope.

These are just a few stories that represent the challenges millions of patients living with debilitating diseases face every day. These are exceptional cases, highlighting extraordinary individuals, that are told in an exciting new documentary, “From Despair to Hope: A New World of Treatments” airing tonight — Wednesday, March 28th — on WUSA-TV (CBS), Channel 9, here in Washington, D.C., at 9:00 p.m. EST.

“From Despair to Hope” introduces a diverse group of amazing patients and their families who are living with a variety of the most devastating diseases facing humankind, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell disease and several rare diseases. Through their individual stories of courage, hope and survival, these patients tell us how breakthrough biotechnology medicines and therapies have saved and improved their quality of life.

We know that patients and their families are often biotechnology’s best advocates. They personalize the complex science and the mind-boggling numbers related to biotechnology and health care: The overwhelming number of patients living with debilitating diseases, the escalating costs, and the billions of dollars required to bring new therapies and treatments from the research bench to bedside.

Even as we celebrate these amazing stories of survival, we also know that there are millions of patients awaiting the next biotech breakthrough that may provide them with renewed hope. We know that biotech researchers around the country are working hard to turn that hope into reality. We look forward to working with our member companies, members of Congress, and our allies throughout the world to advocate for a more streamlined and forward-thinking regulatory review process that will ensure that innovative biotech firms can focus their resources where they belong – in research and devleopment that leads to breakthrough medicines and cures, and job creation – rather than navigating an overly complicated and murky regulatory process. And we will continue our efforts to advocate for policies that encourage investment in biotech innovation.

I personally would like to thank you in advance for watching and for your continued support of biotech innovation.

2011: A Pivotal Year for Biotechnology

Posted under BIO, Blog, Companies, Corporate, Diagnostics, Funding, Jim's Corner, legislation, Medical Devices, Medical Supply, Pharmaceuticals, Public Policy, Startups, Universities, Videos by biotechnow@bio.org (Biotechnology Industry Organization)

Biotechnology continues to hold the greatest promise to address many of the most critical issues facing our world. Continued innovation will lead to breakthrough new and improved cures and treatments for patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and Parkinson’s; enhanced agricultural products to feed a growing global population while protecting the environmental health of our planet; vaccines to protect against bioterrorism; and revolutionary biofuels. The ability of BIO members to continue our shared mission to heal, fuel, and feed the world depends on having an economic and public policy environment that supports research and development that leads to continued innovation.

Read the full article on BIO.org