Pain & Addiction

Long-term solutions to combating the opioid crisis will depend upon the development of novel and safer, next-generation therapies to treat both pain and addiction. To get these new innovations to the patients whose lives depend on them, the policy and regulatory environment keeps pace with advances happening in the lab.

The Future Rest on Three Legs
DNA Molecule

1. Advance our understanding of the biology of pain and addiction to enable the development of innovative treatments for pain and addiction and ensure appropriate and optimal use of existing therapies

  • Support a more comprehensive understanding of the preclinical pain and addiction environment

  • Support investment in research at National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other major centers focused on the biology of pain and addiction

2. Ensure patients suffering from pain or addiction are able to receive the right treatment at the right time with the right support, without stigma

  • Remove coverage and reimbursement barriers that are preventing patient-centric decisions about and access to the most effective treatments for pain and addiction

  • Advance implementation of and adherence to laws and regulations protecting and promoting access to resources for comprehensive pain and addiction treatment

Patient Suffering
Researcher in a Lab

3. Stimulate research & development (R&D) of innovative treatments that effectively treat pain and opioid addiction and prevent abuse

  • Increase leadership engagement, expertise, and resources within the FDA & DEA to promote effective and efficient review of innovative treatments for pain and addiction

  • Modernize and streamline drug development and review processes to enable effective and efficient drug development and review, and stimulate investment in innovation

  • Establish and utilize expedited approval pathways and other incentives to stimulate innovation

Press Releases
September 30, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on Most Favored Nation policies:"For too many years, Americans have subsidized the research and development necessary to bring newer and…
September 26, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on the potential for 100% tariffs on branded or patented medicines in the US:“We share the Administration’s goals for accelerating the onshoring of…
September 17, 2025
Collaboration maximizes BIO members’ access to Avantor’s market-leading portfolio of products, materials, and services to accelerate scientific innovation. WASHINGTON, D.C., September 17, 2025 - The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced it has extended its agreement with…
Letters, Comments & Testimony
April 11, 2022
On Monday, April 11th, BIO also submitted comments in response to the CDC’s recently published Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. In the comments submitted, BIO primarily requested that the CDC revise its language referencing naloxone to be consistent with more general and product…
April 11, 2022
On Monday, April 11th, BIO submitted comments in response to the FDA’s recent draft guidance on the Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Acute Pain. In the comments submitted, BIO reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Agency to achieve its stated priority of “fostering the development…
November 18, 2019
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) comments on the FDA docket, Standards for Future Opioid Analgesic Approvals and Incentives for New Therapeutics to Treat Pain and Addiction. BIO also believes that risks associated with opioid therapies can be surmounted through further…
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