BIO Adds Medicare Section To Its Web Site

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 1999) - In response to the stepped-up debate on prescription drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, BIO has added a special section to its web site's homepage on Medicare modernization at www.bio.org. This section - in its first phase - contains BIO's position on Medicare modernization, recent press releases and op-eds on the issue. Also included are examples of research being conducted by BIO members on aging diseases.

"It's important that in this critical debate on how to get much needed drugs to senior citizens that all parties understand how innovative research conducted by biotech companies can and will ultimately benefit seniors," said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum. "Encouraging rather than hindering that innovation will be the test for how well any Medicare reform promotes cost-savings medical breakthroughs in the long term."

BIO represents more than 850 biotechnology companies, academic institutions and state biotechnology centers in 46 states and 26 nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural and industrial and environmental biotechnology products.