Lyon
France - 15 April 2005
BioVision The World Life Sciences Forum
Patient organizations from around the world challenge "BioVision" to turn itself into "BioReality" for patients with genetic diseases.
The International Genetic Alliance (IGA) congratulates the organizers of BioVision for their timely recognition of the importance of patient and family support organizations. BioVision is setting the agenda for scientific research and the development of new ways of meeting the needs of the millions living with the impact of genetic disease worldwide.
Patrick Terry, President of the IGA said, "Without systematic research and the application of its outcomes, patients and families will continue to experience the impact of potentially treatable serious diseases. We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with doctors, scientists and industry in addressing the problems experienced by the millions of people we represent throughout the world. "
Sustaining progress towards the development of effective innovative therapies is essential if patients and their families are to escape the impact of serious diseases.
The International Genetic Alliance, a global collaboration of patient organizations challenges the scientific, the industrial and the political community to seize the opportunity created by BioVision to ensure that the promise of scientific progress is realized for all who need it - wherever they live - through better diagnosis, improved access and equitable distribution systems for novel therapies.
"The thread that binds us is the fact that the diseases that affect us have the origin in our genes. BioVision bringing together industry, academia and society is a unique one step journey towards better therapies for the prevention and treatment of genetic disease in all its forms for all people wherever they live" Dianne Petrie, Director, The Association of the Genetic Support of Australasia Inc. (AGSA).
"Gathering together Science, Society and Industry, has given birth to unexpected match-making , to the benefit of all parties involved. The dynamic so created is just amazing…" says Eric Poincelet, Director General of The World Life Sciences Forum BioVision.
Notes for Editors
The International Genetic Alliance (IGA) representing patient and parent organizations from Australia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle East, Gulf States, India, China, Iran, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and North America.
· IGA is an alliance of continental and regional alliances of parent and patient organizations with an involvement in the opportunities and implications of genetics and biotechnology regarding its potential for prevention and treatment of serious diseases.
· IGA aims at voicing the interests of patient organizations on the global level.
· IGA values collaboration with science, industry, financiers and policymakers in achieving its goals.
IGA Contacts:
Central secretariat
The Hague, Helios 130
NL CT 2592 CV, The Netherlands
Tel: 0031 35 6034052 / 683 1920
Fax 0031 35 6027440
Ysbrand Poortman, Secr. General
e-mail: y.poortman@vsop.nl
Washington DC Office :
4301 Connecticut Avenue NW - Suite 404
Washington DC 20008-2369 (USA)
Tel: 00-1-202-966 5557
Fax: 00-1-202-966 8553
Patrick Terry, President
e-mail: sterry@geneticalliance.org
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