PhRMA Applauds House Committee On Foreign Affairs Commitment To Continuing Efforts To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, And Malaria Epidemics

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Tropical Diseases;  HIV / AIDS;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 01 Mar 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO Billy Tauzin released the following statement on the passage of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5501) by the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs:

"America's pharmaceutical research companies commend the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for passing the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5501). This admirable bipartisan bill will allow for the continuation of the unprecedented programs and partnerships implemented by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) and other global health programs.

"We are committed to fighting the global HIV, TB and malaria epidemics and we look forward to continuing to work with the partnerships created by PEPFAR and PMI to find new, innovative solutions to fight these diseases.

"The reauthorization of these initiatives is a groundbreaking step in worldwide efforts. Already, PEPFAR has provided care or treatment for over 6.6 million people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children.

"This bill provides much needed resources to halt the 6,000 new HIV infections that occur every day and the approximately 6 million deaths from HIV, TB and malaria that occur every year, primarily in Africa.

"This bill and the promise it holds for curbing the AIDS, TB and malaria epidemics is a great tribute to the inspirational leadership of the late former chairmen of the Committee, Rep. Tom Lantos and Rep. Henry J. Hyde."

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.

PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org

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Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
http://www.phrma.org