printJim Greenwood [2] and Tom Watkins [3], President & CEO of Human Genome Sciences [4] and Chair of BIO’s Board of Directors, hosted a media briefing on January 23 to share BIO’s advocacy accomplishments in 2011 and policy priorities for 2012.
Key victories in 2011 included the passage of patent reform legislation [5] which will benefit all users of the U.S. patent system, the reauthorization of SBIR grant program which will allow majority venture-backed companies to again compete for grants, and the successful negotiation of the PDUFA V [6] agreement.
Priorities for 2012 include the timely passage of the PDUFA V package; reauthorization of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and Pediatric Research Equity Act; extension & expansion of the Therapeutic Discovery Project [7] (TDP); passage of Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPA); adequate funding for FDA, NIH and other agencies critical to the biotech industry; and renewal of the Farm Bill (to support growers in the sustainable production of biomass [8] and deployment of biotechnology to improve productivity). Jim also touched upon the need for a prompt, predictable and science-based approval process for GE animals [9].
The briefing is available as a podcast [10].
