What we’re watching at the 2023 Patient & Health Advocacy Summit

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Patient and Health Advocacy Summit is kicking off in Washington, D.C.

Now in its 12th year, the event brings together patient advocates, academia, regulators, and the biotechnology industry for a few days of sharing best practices and networking.

This year’s theme, “The Importance of the Patient Voice,” aims to “strengthen the understanding of the patients we serve, raise awareness and understanding of diseases, and advance patient-focused public policies,” says BIO.

BIO’s Patient Advocacy Committee – recently renamed the Patient Centricity and Advocacy Committee – “remains committed to paving the way for Patient Advocacy Organizations and biotech peers alike, especially those who are just starting to build their advocacy functions, so they too can more effectively connect with their patient communities ensuring the important patient insights and patient voices are reflected in clinical research and drug development, as well as legislative and policy changes,” says Eric Dube, President and CEO of Travere Therapeutics and Chair of the Committee.

What we’re watching at PHAS 2023

What we’re watching at the 2023 Patient Advocacy Summit:

• BIO’s Chair Dr. Ted Love and Vice Chair John F. Crowley kick off the day with a fireside chat about the mission of the biotech industry and how they got into their paths.
• The law on everyone’s mind: the Inflation Reduction Act. We’ll hear more about the unintended consequences of the law, especially on patients and rare disease, as well as get the federal perspective from BIO’s Federal Government Relations experts.
• Medicaid has been in the news – and we’ll hear more about the impact of the proposed changes on patients from representatives of the American Lung Foundation, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Little Hercules Foundation.
• Representatives from the National Psoriasis Foundation, Prevent Blindness, National Eczema Foundation, and EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases will discuss how they leverage their grassroots ambassadors to advance policy and support patients.