The next president--whoever it may be after elections this fall--must make the future of the biotechnology business a priority, according to a leading industry group. In a detailed agenda released late last month and forwarded to each major party's platform committees, the Industrial Biotechnology Association (IBA) identified the issues most important to its 130 members.

"The highest-visibility issues for biotechnology this election surround health care reform and patent issues," says IBA director of communications Eric Christensen. Financ- ing issues are also critical to the industry, according to Christensen and others.

On health care reform, the IBA agenda calls for a "quality-driven, pluralistic system," one serving the broadest population possible while preserving the widest range of patient choice and avoiding a one-payor system that might be overregulated and might stifle innovation. The group wants all "medically necessary therapies and pharmaceuticals" available to patients in such a system, including all Food and...

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