Innovative biotechnology leading to better understanding of complex diseases

As recently stated in the Glenville Democrat, innovative biotechnology is leading to a greater understanding of complex diseases and better tools for diagnosing and treating conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

"The biotechnology revolution is helping create medicines that use unprecedented technologies, such as nano-sized particles that seek out and target cancer cells and ways to actually regenerate healthy muscle to replace damaged heart tissue, and gene therapy," said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). "Such critical innovation is creating medicines with the potential to help millions of patients live longer, healthier and more productive lives."

Biologics are made from living matter, as opposed to the chemical compounds of traditional pharmaceuticals. They are already available to treat or help prevent heart attacks, breast cancer, diabetes and other serious conditions. In fact, new biologics are among the more than 600 biotech drugs currently in various stages of clinical development to treat a wide range of diseases.

Currently, American biopharmaceutical research companies dominate the field. In fact, as of 2007, U.S. biopharmaceutical companies accounted for 82 percent of global biotech research and development.

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America