Regulatory Affairs

Bioscience economic development in a nation as large and diverse as the United States is as varied as the country itself.  A complex array of factors influence the allocation of resources and the nature of bioscience industry development.

Andrew Emmett, Managing Director, Science & Regulatory Affairs, speaks about the important regulatory issues facing the industry, specifically PDUFA reauthorization, the FDA and regulation. Also, hear his programming highlights from the Achieving Regulatory Approval and Compliance Track at the upcoming 2012 BIO International Convention.

The 14th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference was held on February 13-14 in New York City at the Waldorf=Astoria

State governments in 2011 continued to see regional economic growth in the life sciences industry and in 2012 will increasingly focus attention on technology transfer and venture funding as mechanisms to increase private sector innovation related activities within their jurisdictions. Realizing that entrepreneurship is a key ingredient in economic development, states and localities are undertaking the support of programs that assist high technology businesses, and that capitalize on state regional presence of universities and federal laboratories.

BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood and Tom Watkins, President & CEO of Human Genome Sciences and Chair of BIO’s Board of Directors, recently hosted a media briefing to recap our advocacy accomplishments in 2011 and lay out BIO’s policy priorities for 2012.

Biotechnology continues to hold the greatest promise to address many of the most critical issues facing our world.

BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood congratulated the FDA and biopharmaceutical sponsors for making 35 novel new treatments available to patients in FY11.

While the U.S. leads in the area of biotechnology, there is no guarantee this competitive edge will continue.

Regulatory review processes are not keeping up with rapidly advancing science and are making the environment for developing new treatments and preventions for deadly and debilitating diseases more difficult.

The biotech industry has shrunk dramatically in recent years based primarily on the continued tight capital markets and increased aversion to risk on the part of investors.

A strong Network will bolster public awareness of the industry and encourage more investment dollars.

Society has tapped just a small fraction of the many potential uses and benefits of biotechnology.

Mankind's need to cure disease, combat hunger and discover new forms of energy has never been more urgent.

BIO and five member companies – Mendel Biotechnology, Arborgen, Abengoa Bioenergy, Novozymes and BP Biofuels – along with the Biomass Power Association held a briefing on Capitol Hill this week, outlining the importance of the USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) and related programs. Regulatory rules for the BCAP, Biorefinery Assistance Program, and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) were finalized by USDA only during the last quarter of 2010. But Congress is considering cutting the funds for these programs before they have a chance to show their effectiveness.

Letters, Testimony & Comments

February 27 2013
    Dear Sir/Madam:    The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) thanks the Food and Drug Administration...
February 19 2013
    The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) thanks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) for the...
February 4 2013
  The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) thanks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the opportunity to provide...
January 24 2013
Biologics are complex medicines manufactured from living organisms. Unlike traditional “small molecule” drugs, biologics are...
January 24 2013
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is the world’s largest biotechnology trade association. BIO represents more than 1,...

Press Releases

January 23 2013
Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) –  The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced that Ken...
October 9 2012
Any waiver of the RFS would have little to no effect on corn prices, but would certainly harm biofuel producers and...
February 9 2012
Patient Safety Must Remain Top Priority Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2012) — Biotechnology Industry...
September 16 2011
Washington, D.C. (September 16, 2011) – Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim...
September 1 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.(Sept. 1, 2011) – Research and development in synthetic biology is an evolution of...