The Importance of Biotechnology

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Americans are more concerned with finding cures for cancer and other serious diseases than with national security and illegal immigration, according to a survey released at this year’s Bio International meeting. Conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates, the survey illustrates the public’s overall concern with health care, especially as it relates to curing diseases. We discuss this survey in more detail in the Rapid Reporter (page 17).

The four-day Bio International meeting, held in Boston last month, boasted a record attendance: more than 22,000 individuals from more than 60 countries. This month’s ASCO meeting is also expected to draw a record number of attendees. In the pharmaceutical industry, the importance of biotechnology is reflected in the number of new products that are in various stages of development. Biopharmaceutical therapies now represent about half of all drugs under development.

Global Reports

Reimbursement and Managed Care News

With so many developments in the biotechnology industry, keeping up-to-date is more important than ever. We’ve designed this publication for you—the practicing oncologist specialist—to enable you to remain current on the latest therapeutic breakthroughs. We also focus on reports and analysis that provide a global perspective. To this end, this issue introduces two new departments— on page 7 and on page 14—that provide an international view of oncology as well as a focus on practice management issues, both of which are essential to remaining current in the specialty.

In future issues we’ll feature discussions with clinicians, researchers, and other oncology leaders and explore the financial and economic perspectives of the latest clinical news. As always, we appreciate your feedback. Your comments will help us to provide the most practical biotechnology and oncology information.