WASHINGTON, D.C. – John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement.
“The passage of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act is a bipartisan victory for children and families living with rare diseases. We thank the bill’s House and Senate cosponsors and the countless patient advocates for their unwavering commitment to reauthorizing the Pediatric Priority Review (PPRV) program and to ensuring this bill crossed the finish line. The PPRV program provides critical incentives for rare disease research, and its reauthorization provides stability and confidence for biotech innovators who are leading the way in the discovery of breakthrough treatments.”
“For more than a decade, the PPRV program has incentivized the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases at no cost to taxpayers, providing hope for families affected by devastating conditions who often previously had no options. We thank Senators Mullin (R-OK) and Bennet (D-CO), Reps. McCaul (R-TX), Dingell (D-MI), Bilirakis (R-FL), Schrier (D-WA), Harshbarger (R-TN), Matsui (D-CA), Crenshaw (R-TX), Castor (D-FL), Weber (R-TX), and Trahan (D-MA) for their leadership on the bill.”
“This funding package also takes important first steps to rein in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). For too long, these middlemen have driven up costs for patients, pocketing savings for themselves rather than passing them on. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to realize a 21st-century vision for healthcare access and affordability for American families. It is time to simplify our health care system, cut out the middlemen, and reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients.”
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About the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
BIO is the premier biotechnology advocacy organization representing biotech companies, industry leaders, and state biotech associations in the United States and more than 35 countries around the globe. BIO members range from biotech start-ups to some of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies – all united by the same goal: to develop medical and scientific breakthroughs that prevent and fight disease, restore health, and improve patients’ lives. BIO also organizes the BIO International Convention and a series of annual conferences that drive partnerships, investment, and progress within the sector. Learn more at bio.org.