Biotech's Role in Improving Global Health
Washington, D.C. – May 3, 2004
The biotechnology industry is working to overcome hurdles to provide patients in the developing world with the significant medicines it has created to battle such devastating diseases as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
BIO 2004, the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO's) Annual International Convention, which will take place June 6-9 at San Francisco's Moscone Center, will feature a series of sessions to examine the serious global disease burden and how the biotech industry, world governments and the financial community are working together to improve patient access to life-saving medicines.
Among the global health sessions that are planned:
Incentives to Stimulate Medicine Development
Monday, June 7, 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
New financial and legislative initiatives designed to spur development of medical products designed to treat diseases with the greatest burden on developing-world populations will be discussed during an interactive roundtable.
New Money, Players and Opportunities in Global Health
Monday, June 7, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Research and new product development in the United States and Europe are frequently being driven by medical issues arising in the developing world forcing biotech companies, governments, and foundations to scramble for more resources. This session will highlight important new funding sources and unique approaches to vexing commercial questions like intellectual property ownership and splitting commercial markets.
New and Affordable Drugs for Developed, Developing Worlds
Monday, June 7, 2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
How can biotech and pharmaceutical companies achieve a balance between competing needs for drugs for the developing world while satisfying shareholders? This session will examine how partnerships between industry, nonprofits and other public sector groups might enable companies to create and provide new drugs to the developing world without jeopardizing financial health.
Biotechnology Innovation and the Global AIDS Epidemic
Monday, June, 7, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
HIV is a preventable and treatable medical condition. This session will highlight how the biotech industry's innovation is contributing to the fight against the global AIDS epidemic in the form of effective, tolerable and easy-to-use HIV treatments and how the industry can work with governments and other groups to contribute to HIV treatment and prevention in developing countries.
About BIO Ventures for Global Health
BIO Ventures for Global Health is a non-profit organization whose mission is to save lives by accelerating the development of novel biotechnology-based drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to address the unmet medical needs of the developing world. The organization spurs biotech industry involvement in global health product development by increasing biotech and global health partnerships, designing and advocating for compelling market-based incentives, and synthesizing and disseminating critical information and quantitative analysis. For more information, please visit www.bvgh.org.
For additional information, contact:
Molly Polen, Director of Communications, BIO Ventures for Global Health 202-470-6232