Bridging the gap - building public awareness of the benefits of biotech

Major developments

EuropaBio continues to promote patients' rights in the EU

EuropaBio's Patient Advisory Group (PAG) provides counsel on all EuropaBio healthcare-related policies. The aim of this group, which meets approximately three times a year, is to implement a patient-centred healthcare system. Made up by European Patients organisations, the group is intended to help us better meet the needs of the patients we serve. One of the first achievements of the group is a 'Healthcare Biotech Fast Facts' flyer, which, in an accessible language, outlines healthcare biotechnology and its possible uses.

EuropaBio's European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology

Over 260 delegates from 23 countries from industry, research, policy-making and investment fields attended EuropaBio's inaugural European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology, held in Brussels from 15 -17 September 2008. Organised jointly by EuropaBio and IntertechPira, the event featured 50 leading speakers who assessed the prospects for industrial biotechnology in Europe.

Building on the success of EFIB 2008, preparation is under way for the follow-up event in 2009. Taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 20 to 22 October 2009, the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology 2009 promises an informative 3-day event comprising workshops, an exhibition, focused plenary sessions and three new dedicated programme tracks focusing on feedstock for the bio-based economy, policies and regulations, and innovation.

Bio-Economy website

In February 2009, EuropaBio launched the bio-economy website, opening the door to the bio-based economy. It offers the opportunity to explore the main applications and benefits of industrial biotechnology and bio-based products in a user-friendly and educational way via videos and graphs. Users can also take a look at what's happening in the European Union and its Member States in the area of research and innovation for industrial biotechnology and bio-based products, as well as important developments at the policy level to boost the bio-based economy. The website also includes a searchable database of pilot and demonstration facilities available in Europe to develop industrial biotech processes. Information about developments in bio-based economy in other parts of the world is also included.

EuropaBio & Biosimilar Medicines

To highlight the issues around biosimilar medicines, especially on interchangeability, and to urge those Member States that have yet to put in place specific wording around the substitution of biosimilar medicines, EuropaBio has issued a brochure on the issue, which has been distributed to, and discussed with, a long list of decision-makers, as well as Healthcare Council Members.

EuropaBio participates in Green Week 2008

EuropaBio participated in Green Week 2008 raising awareness about how biotechnology can contribute to sustainability.

Raising awareness about the Value of Innovation

On 13 November, a joint EuropaBio-BIO industry workshop on Health Technology Assessment was held in Brussels. About 50 participants from companies involved in biotech R&D were present to listen to, and interact with, more than 15 speakers sharing their views on, and experience of, HTA policies. This first transatlantic experience on HTA has been a real success and is the starting point of a promising further collaboration between BIO and EuropaBio.

Biofuels communications campaign to rebut misinformation around the passing of the 'Renewable Energy' Directive

With the increasing interest in biofuels spreading throughout the world, and hundreds of daily news articles on the subject, EuropaBio put together an information portal to respond to the questions that people have about biofuels. This was launched to the press at the World Congress on Biofuels in 2008 and provides a feast of facts, figures and rebuttals to media misinformation about biofuels.

EuropaBio Fact Sheets: How industrial biotechnology can tackle climate change and How green biotech can contribute to mitigating and adapting to climate change

Climate change is "hot" right now, intensely discussed by politicians, business, society and the media. Reducing the impact on the world's climate is a key element in sustainable development and of particular importance for industry. Industrial or white biotechnology offers one of the most promising new approaches to pollution prevention, resource conservation, and cost reduction. Applications of white biotechnology can contribute to meet the EU's environmental objective to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% in 2020.

The cultivation figures for biotech crops in the EU in 2008 were announced at a press conference in Brussels in September. These figures showed that, in those EU countries where legislation is in place, more EU farmers are choosing to go biotech to boost their competitiveness despite a 10-year moratorium on new product approvals for cultivation.

EuropaBio's industrial biotech factsheet examines how industrial biotechnology can tackle climate change. Solutions to adapt to climate change or mitigate it can also be found in agricultural or green biotech. Agricultural biotech applications can reduce the impact of agriculture on climate by reducing CO2 emissions, soil erosion and water dispersion. Moreover, ag biotech plants that adapt to changes in climate (such as drought or salt tolerant crops) and pest presence in given regions of the world are being developed.
 

EuropaBio creates Personalised Medicines Taskforce

EuropaBio has established a taskforce to start pioneering EuropaBio activities in the field of personalised medicines. In the first instance, it is intended to exchange initial ideas on the impact of improved diagnostics and targeted therapies on health economics and to brainstorm on a more tailor-made regulatory environment and potential incentives in these fields.

Challenges and opportunities

EuropaBio continues to:

• develop patient-centred policies through regular meetings with the EuropaBio PAG.
• raise awareness about the value of biotech medicinal products for the economy and society as a whole, and about the value of innovation.
• be the voice of SMEs in Europe by providing a platform to discuss, develop and support the implementation of concrete solutions to their needs and concerns.

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