Biotechnology Innovation Organization

BIO IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MEMBER COMPANIES, STATE BIOTECHNOLOGY GROUPS, ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, PATIENT GROUPS, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND IN 30+ COUNTRIES. BIO IS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT POLICY MUST NURTURE INNOVATION IN THE LIFE SCIENCES TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES IN HEALTH CARE, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. BIO'S EFFORTS INCLUDE ADVOCACY AND POLICY EFFORTS FOCUSED ON THE INNOVATIVE HEALTH OF THE SECTOR ALONG WITH CONVENING EVENTS AND OFFERING OTHER MEMBER SERVICES.

ADVOCACY: BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION (BIO)'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS REFLECT THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE BIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE FOUR SECTION GOVERNING BOARDS.THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOCUSES ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO ALL BIO MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SIZE OR TECHNOLOGY. THESE CROSS-CUTTING ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR ARE LISTED BELOW: - SAFEGUARDED AND ADVANCED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTIONS, DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.- FOSTERED A DIALOGUE ABOUT BIOETHICS AND PROACTIVELY ADVANCED THE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY.- PROMOTED INVESTMENT IN GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH.- EXPANDED OUTREACH TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL ENTITIES TO EDUCATE ON POLICY ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY AND TO IMPROVE THE INVESTMENT AND REGULATORY CLIMATE FOR BIOTECH PRODUCTS.THE HEALTH SECTION ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - PROMOTED HEALTHCARE POLICIES THAT RECOGNIZE BOTH THE PROMISE AND VALUE OF INNOVATION.- ADVOCATED FOR A SAFE AND PREDICTABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT FOR VALUE-BASED PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR DRUGS AND BIOLOGICS.- ENHANCED AND PROTECTED PATIENT ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE THERAPIES AND PROMOTED THE NEED FOR GREATER NONDISCRIMINATION ENFORCEMENT AGAINST INSURANCE BENEFIT DESIGNS.- ADVOCATED FOR BIOSIMILARS POLICIES THAT PROTECT PATIENT SAFETY, PROMOTE BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION, AND ADVANCE THE SCIENCE-BASED REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF BIOSIMILARS AND INTERCHANGEABLE BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS.- PROMOTED THE VALUE OF U.S. GOVERNMENT INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO IMMUNIZATIONS AND FOSTER VACCINE INNOVATION, STRENGTHENED OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO BIOTERROR THREATS OR EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND ENCOURAGED DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS TO FIGHT ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR).- INFLUENCED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION AND GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS.- ADVOCATED FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM.THE EMERGING COMPANIES SECTION ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - ADVANCED THE INTEREST OF EMERGING COMPANIES IN CAPITAL FORMATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES POLICY.- ADVOCATED FOR FISCAL POLICIES SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE EMERGING COMPANIES AND INVESTMENT IN GROUNDBREAKING R&D; ENHANCED THE VOICE OF PRE-REVENUE, R&D-INTENSIVE BUSINESSES- ADVOCATED FOR THE REMOVAL OF BURDENSOME FINANCIAL REPORTING REGULATIONS ON EMERGING COMPANIES.THE FOOD & AGRICULTURE SECTION ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS TO ADVANCE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE U.S. AND GLOBAL REGULATORY SYSTEMS FOR AG-BIOTECH PRODUCTS. - WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN TO ADDRESS TRADE ISSUES IN AGRICULTURAL EXPORT MARKETS SUCH AS CHINA AND EUROPE. - ADVOCATED IN LEGISLATURES AND COURTS TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS OF FARMERS TO PLANT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS. THE INDUSTRIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - SUPPORTED A RENEWABLE CHEMICALS REPORT.- ADVOCATED FOR EPA TO TREAT ALL SUSTAINABLY SOURCED BIOMASS AS ELIGIBLE MEASURES FOR EMISSIONS REDUCTION CREDIT (ERC) GENERATION. - ADVOCATED REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA) AS AMENDED BY CONGRESS, AS WELL AS ISSUES RELATING TO THE NATIONAL BIOENGINEERED FOOD DISCLOSURE ACT.- ENGAGED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S REVIEW OF THE COORDINATED FRAMEWORK FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE REGULATION OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED (GE) ALGAE.

SERVICES: BIO'S SERVICES INCLUDE CONFERENCES AND ACTIVITIES THAT BRING ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS LISTED BELOW:- SAFEGUARDED AND ADVANCED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTIONS, DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.- FOSTERED A DIALOGUE ABOUT BIOETHICS AND PROACTIVELY ADVANCED THE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY.- PROMOTED INVESTMENT IN GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH.- BROUGHT TOGETHER INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AND INVESTORS FOR EVENTS RANGING FROM THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION TO CONFERENCES FOR BUSINES DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES.THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ATTRACTS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BIOTECH AND PHARMA ATTENDEES FROM 73 COUNTRIES AND 47 U.S. STATES, AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO AND THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OFFERS PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE NET INCOME FROM THE CONVENTION SUPPORTS OUR ADVOCACY, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND OTHER MEMBER SERVICE ACTIVITIES.THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ARE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, EXHIBITION, THE BIO BUSINESS FORUM, AND NETWORKING EVENTS. THESE ELEMENTS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, ACADEMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND INVESTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO LEARN ABOUT RECENT SCIENTIFIC AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS, AND SCHEDULE ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. THE BIO BUSINESS FORUM AT THE CONVENTION HOSTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARTNERING MEETINGS AMONG A FEW THOUSAND COMPANIES, ALONG WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED COMPANY PRESENTATIONS. THE CONVENTION HOSTS HUNDREDS OF SPEAKERS, AND OVER A THOUSAND EXHIBITIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND STATE PAVILIONS (AND A NUMBER OF PRODUCT FOCUS ZONES).BEYOND THE CONVENTION, BIO HOSTS OR CO-HOSTS A NUMBER OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES THAT PROVIDE VENUES FOR MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER COMPANIES TO PRESENT NEW DATA, MEET WITH FELLOW BIOTECH COMPANIES, AND ATTRACT FUNDING FROM INVESTORS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.