PhRMA Statement on Collaborative Research

Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2008) — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Ken Johnson issued the following statement today on joint research projects that often involve companies, universities and government scientists:

"Research is critical to scientific advancement and collaboration among researchers can mean bringing together some of America's best scientific minds to facilitate the discovery of new medicines and important knowledge about diseases and treatments. Each researcher -- including those who work for companies, universities and the government -- has the potential to contribute a 'piece of the puzzle,' and that often leads to new products and key findings.

"University researchers and scientists who work for the National Institutes of Health often conduct basic research that can be used by the laboratories of pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in the development of important new medicines. It is a partnership that has withstood the test of time and often led to the development of cutting-edge scientific data and new medicines that have improved and saved the lives of patients all over the world."