MedicalNewsToday.com reports that the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) appeals to the Senate to consider the Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2007 recently issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) as it debates on patent reform legislation. BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood has expressed concern regarding the need for �the U.S. patent system to continue to provide the framework required to maintain America’s global leadership in innovation.�

As we all know, the US patent system capitalizes on American ingenuity and innovations. Thus, any proposal that could weaken patent certainty and discourage investment in the biotechnology industry should be rejected.

BIO is composed of more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and allied organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. They work focuses on healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology, among others.