New BIO Print Ad Calls for Safe Drugs for Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2003)—Today the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) launched a new print ad entitled “Safety” to emphasize its opposition to U.S. House Resolution 2427. BIO opposes this bill because it would make it easier to import counterfeit medicines into the United States. A full-page ad appeared in today’s The Hill and more are planned around the country before next week’s House vote. The ad can be viewed at http://www.bio.org/reg/importad.pdf.

Also, BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum has sent a letter on behalf of the organization’s 1,000 members to Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert expressing “…strong concern and objection to H.R. 2427… which would significantly weaken regulation on the importation of prescription drugs and subject Americans to a potentially unsafe drug supply. Today, American citizens have absolutely the safest supply of medicines in the world. We cannot afford to risk that safety by enacting H.R. 2427... and we urge you to vote against it.”

The entire letter can be viewed at http://www.bio.org/reg/impltr.asp. A fact sheet on this issue can be viewed at http://www.bio.org/reg/impfacts.asp.

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.