Legislation will strengthen pipeline of medical countermeasures against serious public health threats
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today applauds the enactment of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation (PAHPAI) Act, signed into law by President Trump late yesterday. The law re-authorizes critical federal biodefense programs and agencies, including the BioShield Special Reserve Fund (SRF), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). It authorizes funding for pandemic influenza product development and procurement for the first time.
BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement:
“I applaud President Trump for signing this historic bi-partisan legislation. The PAHPAI Act provides critical flexibility and predictability for government agencies and their private sector partners by authorizing increased, multi-year funding for the BioShield Special Reserve Fund and by empowering BARDA to better address CBRN threat agents, pandemic influenza, emerging infectious diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. These investments in preparedness and medical countermeasure development will greatly enhance our ability to respond to potentially catastrophic attacks on the American public.”
“I would like to thank Representatives Susan Brooks and Anna Eshoo, Senators Richard Burr and Robert Casey, as well as the leaders of the House Energy & Commerce and Senate HELP Committees, for their tireless bi-partisan championship of this vital legislation.”
About BIO
BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing 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. BIOtechNOW is BIO’s blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.
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