BIO applauds release of HHS Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Review

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood released the following statement on the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Review released yesterday by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:

“We look forward to working with HHS and other key government and academic stakeholders to implement these initiatives and other ideas that will help to sustain and further develop the biodefense enterprise.”

"BIO applauds HHS for the release of their new vision statement and strategy document resulting from the assessment of the current public health emergency medical countermeasures enterprise. We are pleased that the Administration is highlighting this critical component of national security and believe this document is an important first step in focusing on the key issue of the development and procurement of medical countermeasures. We appreciate that the HHS recommendations, such as investing in FDA regulatory science and shifting to a multi-year budget approach, seek to address the challenges facing the biotechnology companies that are dedicated to helping the nation respond to public health threats.

"We look forward to working with HHS and other key government and academic stakeholders to implement these initiatives and other ideas that will help to sustain and further develop the biodefense enterprise.

"We also look forward to participating in further discussions regarding other important elements of preparedness such as investments in detection and surveillance as well as distribution mechanisms. We concur with HHS that the rapid detection of health threats and timely distribution of safe and effective medical countermeasures are pivotal to our nation's ability to respond to any biological threats."