BIO commends GSK and Alnylam’s efforts to foster new therapies for neglected diseases

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) applauds the joint efforts of BIO members GlaxoSmithKline and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to encourage research to accelerate medical therapies for neglected diseases and today’s announcement of the selection of BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) as the administrator of the Intellectual Property (IP) Pool.

“The fact is that millions of people die each year from these neglected diseases and the pace of drug development is far too slow for the enormous need. The IP Pool will move medicines for neglected diseases forward more quickly and effectively, and help save lives in the developing world.”

“BIO strongly endorses this IP Pool as a promising tool to foster even more collaboration between industry, non-profit organizations, and researchers around the globe in developing new therapies to treat diseases of the developing world,” stated BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “This exemplifies our industry’s commitment to increasing access to new medicines that can treat, and hopefully one day even eradicate, the diseases that plague patients in the developing world.”

“We encourage other forward-thinking companies to join GSK and Alnylam by contributing their knowledge and resources to help speed the development of medicines for poor patients in the developing world,” stated Melinda Moree, Chief Executive Officer of BVGH. “The fact is that millions of people die each year from these neglected diseases and the pace of drug development is far too slow for the enormous need. The IP Pool will move medicines for neglected diseases forward more quickly and effectively, and help save lives in the developing world.”

BIO and BIO Ventures for Global Health will host the Partnering for Global Health Forum 2010 on May 3, 2010, in conjunction with the BIO International Convention. The Forum builds on BIO Ventures for Global Health’s ability to find the common ground between the goals of global health and the pragmatic needs of companies, and BIO’s extensive experience and expertise in biotech and pharmaceutical partnering. Leveraging the combined strengths of the two entities, the meeting will connect leaders from the global health, biopharmaceutical, academic, government, and donor communities to speed the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for the world’s poorest. Additional information on the forum is available at http://pgh.bio.org/opencms/PGH/2010/index.jsp.