Europabio urges EU Parliament to increase 2007 EMEA budget

Brussels, 24 October 2006: EuropaBio today urged the EU Parliament to increase the European Medicines Agency’s (EMEA’s) 2007 budget. The vote takes place in the European Parliament on 26 October 2006.

“It is vital for Europe's life sciences based progress in healthcare that the EMEA’s funds are increased for 2007. This will mean it can continue its key role as a rigorous scientific and independent expert review body that promotes healthcare for the benefit of patientsn,” stated Dr. Andrea Rappagliosi, Chairman of EuropaBio’s Healthcare Council. “The EMEA must be adequately funded to ensure that patients across Europe benefit from equal access to European biotech innovation in a timely manner”.

Representatives from the Biotech industry’s national associations met with over 50 of their representatives in Brussels recently to urge support for the EMEA’s 2007 budget so that the Agency can:

- Adequately support sponsors of orphan medicinal products for rare diseases,

- Implement the new provisions for Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (1);

- Ensure the highest level of scientific advice and guidance in clinical development especially in the field of genetics and pharmacogenetics, as well as new advanced therapies.

- Fulfill new tasks resulting from the upcoming Regulation on medicinal products for paediatric use.

The healthcare biotech industry not only contributes to progress in medicine, but also to advancements in the knowledge and science underlying life-threatening diseases and their causes.

EuropaBio represents the European industries active in all fields of biotechnology (70 large corporations and more than 1800 Small and Medium-Sized enterprises across Europe through our National Associations).

For further information, please contact:

Adeline Farrelly Tel: +32 2 735 0313 Direct: +32 2 739 1174

Mobile: +32 475 93 17 24

Email: a.farrelly@europabio.org 

Ms. Nathalie Moll, Director Tel: +32 2 735 0313 Fax: +32 2 735 4960

Mobile: 0473 88 45 78

Email: n.moll@europabio.org

Ms. Aurélie Vandeputte

Tel: +32 2 739 11 78

Email: a.vandeputte@europabio.org

About EuropaBio
EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 70 corporate and associate members operating worldwide and 24 national biotechnology associations representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.
http://www.europabio.org

(1) EMEA special provisions for SMEs

http://www.europabio.org/articles/PR_SMEs%20and%20EMEA_FINAL.doc

More information:

- EMEA Website: http://www.emea.europa.eu

- EMEA Press Statement on the budget: http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/general/manage/mbpr/38856306en.pdf