New bioterror bill could provide fresh funds

A new bill passed by the House and headed for Senate review is drawing the attention of biotech companies. The legislation calls for the creation of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which would have $1 billion to help advance research into bioterror therapies and devices. Some biotech companies say the authority would provide badly needed funding to get a therapy or device to the approval stage, when Project BioShield funds could be tapped for stockpiling supplies. Skeptics in the field note that Project BioShield has been long on promises and short on performance, raising the prospect of more of the same from this new government project.

- here's the report on the legislation from the San Diego Union-Tribune