BIO Bound

My bags are packed. I’m ready to go.

As many of us head out to San Diego for BIO, it’s important to put the gathering in the proper perspective. It’s not just about business. It’s not just about networking. It’s about advancing the public health. It’s about protecting and advancing innovation.

Attached is a letter that Pfizer honcho Ian Read just sent to Representative Fred Upton. Mr. Upton, as you are likely aware, is the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce and has been leading a series of hearings on 21st Century Cures.

Ian also attached a more complete thought piece on a series of innovation priorities. Innovation? Read all about.

While at BIO I’ll be participating in two panels.

The first: Will Government and Payor Policies Encourage Innovation and Create Incentives for the Continued Development of Abuse Deterrent Formulations and Improvements to Existing Technologies in the Regulatory Review and Approval Track?

Panelists

Peter Pitts, Moderator, President and co-founder, Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

Douglas Throckmorton, MD, Deputy Director of Regulatory Programs, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Richard C. Dart, MD, PhD, Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center

J. David Haddox, DDS, MD, Vice President of Health Policy for Purdue Pharma, L.P.

WHERE: San Diego Convention Center Room 31 B

WHEN:   Tuesday, June 24 2014, 9:00 am –10:00 am

The second: Thriving Again in 2014: Preparing for Success, Not Just Survival at FDA Advisory Committee Meetings

Panelists

David Schull, president of Russo Partners

Penny Daniels, strategic communications consultant at 3D Communications

Craig Audet, Ph.D., senior vice president, operations and head of global regulatory affairs with Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Peter Pitts, president and co-founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and former FDA associate commissioner of external affairs

Silvia Taylor, senior vice president, investor relations, public relations, and corporate communications at Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

WHERE: San Diego Convention Center Room 31B

WHEN:   Tuesday, June 24 2014, 3:00PM – 4:00PM

In addition, the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest will have a booth. It’s #5642. And we’ll be talking about innovation. 

Hope to see you there.