EuropaBio promises transparency in its relationships with patient associations
EuropaBio, the association representing the biotech industries in Brussels, has published a charter in which it commits itself to transparency in its relationships with patient associations.
EuropaBio, the association representing the biotech industries in Brussels, has published a charter in which it commits itself to transparency in its relationships with patient associations.
'The key principles underlying this charter are openness and transparency,' states the charter.
The charter's scope includes activities carried out on a collaborative basis with patient groups such as organising conferences, publishing documents and developing communication campaigns. Among the resolutions set out in the document - which is not legally binding - the Brussels biotech lobby has promised that its secretariat will not pay any direct funding to individual patient organisations.
The association also says that it will publish on its Internet site once a year a list of patient groups that have participated in events organised by EuropaBio. The association will also publish summaries of activities undertaken with patient groups.
The charter commits EuropaBio as an association but it is implicit that it may not be so binding on the approximately 78 companies that are direct members of the association.
Among other things, EuropaBio's collaboration charter with patient organisations says that patient groups will not be asked to promote or defend specific treatments or products.
Written agreements must be set up for any work done with patient groups and these should list the activities concerned and the level of support, whether this is financial or in kind. All support will be transparent and will clearly specify the role of EuropaBio. In addition, the charter states that the secretariat of EuropaBio will have no control over the support activities carried out by patient groups resulting from this type of work.
Third parties acting on behalf of EuropaBio will have to respect the same rules, the charter says, published in the context of the association's Manifesto 2007, which sets out its activities and aims under seven headings, including in the areas of orphan medicines, biosimilars and innovative therapies.