In a keynote speech to the attendees of BIO 2005, the new chief of the organization -- former Congressman Jim Greenwood -- made clear that under his direction the biotech group would step up its lobbying efforts on behalf of the industry. "Entrepreneurs and investors will still fail, and fail utterly, if the FDA takes too long to approve their products, if CMS and other payors fail to adequately reimburse their costs, if federal and international law fails to protect their intellectual property, if generic companies can claim their process patents, if plaintiff lawyers are allowed to bankrupt them...if importation undermines the safety of their products...." To underscore his commitment to lobbying, Greenwood spotlighted the addition of Scott Whitaker, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson's former chief of staff, as the group's new COO.
- read the speech for more
ALSO: Singapore's Biopolis announced at BIO that Phase II of the ambitious R&D complex is underway. About 90% of the two million square feet of Phase I in the biotech hub has been leased. Release