Health Care

A biologic is manufactured in a living system such as a microorganism, or plant or animal cells. Most biologics are very large, complex molecules or mixtures of molecules. Many biologics are produced using recombinant DNA technology.

Biotech research holds a great deal of promise for future innovation in the treatment of previously untreatable diseases. But how long does it take for a biotech therapy to come to market?

On April 8, 2004, Genentech, Inc. filed a Citizen Petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requesting that the agency refrain from (1) publishing a draft guidance document setting forth standards for so-called follow-on or "generic" biotechnology-derived products, and (2) approving an application filed under section 505(b)(2) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) with respect to a biotechnology product that relies, directly or indirectly, on trade secret and confidential commercial data and information of an innovator.

BIO opposes cloning to create a new human being (reproductive cloning) because it is unsafe and unethical. However, it is important to distinguish between that and other appropriate and important uses of the technology such as cloning specific human cells, genes and other tissues that do not and cannot lead to a human being (therapeutic cloning).