White House summit: PhRMA in, BIO out

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) has expressed its "pleasure" at being invited to participate in US  President Barack Obama's Forum on Health Care Reform. The PhRMA's  president, Billy Tauzin, described the event as "an important step  forward in setting the tone for an open and honest debate about the need  for comprehensive health care reform." He added: "our message today was  simple, America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies  are committed to making sure comprehensive health reform stays on the  front burner to help assure that all Americans can access high-quality  and affordable health care coverage."

By contrast with the previous event of this kind, hosted by President  Bill Clinton behind closed doors in 1993, the 2009 forum was broadcast  live via the Internet.

However, the 150-strong gathering was revealing by who was not invited  as much as who did attend. A Biotechnology Industry Organization  spokesperson confirmed to the Marketletter that the "BIO was not invited  to participate in the health care summit." Neither was the Generic  Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), according to the In Vivo blog, but  global drug behemoth Pfizer's chief executive, Jeff Kindler, joined Mr  Tauzin in representing drugmakers.