Press Conference on the Orphan Drug Act: 25 Years of Innovation
What: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Orphan Drug Act, which helped lead to the development of new drugs and biologics for rare and frequently untreated diseases by granting seven years of market exclusivity to the developer of a new therapy for a disease which affects less than 200,000 people in the U.S.
This press conference will tell the story from multiple perspectives: patient, advocacy community, corporate, policymaker and government agency.
Who: Speakers include:
Jim Greenwood, BIO President and CEO
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), original cosponsor of the Act (videotaped comments)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), original cosponsor of the Act (videotaped comments)
Diane Dormand, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
Hillary and Kelly Lamoree (Cystic Fibrosis patient)
John Walsh (Alpha-1 patient)
John Adams (PKU patient)
Paul Negulescu, PhD, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Stuart Peltz, PhD, PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
Tim Coté, MD, MPH, FDA
When: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: San Diego Convention Center, Room 7A (press corridor)
The 2008 BIO International Convention is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees from around the world. The convention was last held in San Diego in 2001 and attracted 14,731 professionals.
For more information on the global event for biotechnology, please visit www.bio2008.org. Check out BIO’s events blog at www.bioontheroad.org and listen to podcasts on the convention at www.biotechnow-org.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO International Convention
June 17-20, 2008
San Diego, CA
Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
Sept. 10-12, 2008
Vancouver, BC
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
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