Grants will provide critical funding to small emerging biotechnology companies working on promising innovations for treating and curing cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS, among other diseases
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) praises the House and Senate for passage of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) reauthorization as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1540).
The passage of this Act reauthorizes and amends the SBIR/STTR programs, which help fund small innovative companies on the brink of new technologies and discoveries.
BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement today:
“BIO and our members have long advocated for the reauthorization of, and changes to, SBIR/STTR, which are critical sources of funding for emerging biotechnology companies in the early development stages of medical research for serious and life threatening diseases, including cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s.
“We especially are pleased that this Act will allow majority venture capital-backed companies to once again compete for SBIR/STTR funds, which will help level the playing field for small biotechnology companies so that they can continue to bring innovative medical treatments and cures to market. Allowing companies that are primarily funded through venture capital to compete once again for SBIR/STTR grants will increase the number of new medical discoveries and innovations available to patients.
“Drug development can take up to $1 billion and 10 years and at the very earliest stages, multiple sources of financing including SBIR/STTR grants have been instrumental in advancing research and development in biotechnology.
“Biotechnology is a capital-intensive industry and securing funding has never been more critical or more challenging than it is right now.
“In recent months, many U.S. public biotechnology companies have been forced to placed drug development programs on hold or cut programs all together due to lack of capital. These programs include promising therapies for HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer, and diabetes, among other diseases.
“The seed money secured today from programs such as SBIR/STTR has the potential to yield the cutting-edge, life-saving therapies and cures of tomorrow. BIO applauds the Congress for recognizing the importance of these programs and paving the way for future medical advancements and breakthroughs that will ultimately benefit individual patients and the public health at large."
For additional data and analysis on the U.S. biotechnology industry, please visit www.bio.org.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 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. BIO produces BIOtech Now, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtech Now.
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Upcoming BIO Events
BIO Asia International Partnering Conference
January 31 – February 1, 2012
Osaka, Japan
BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 13-14, 2012
New York, NY
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April 29-May 2, 2012
Orlando, FL
2012 BIO International Convention
June 18-21, 2012
Boston, MA
CONTACT:
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Tracy Cooley, APR, 202-312-9274
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