Actor underscores central role of medications in health care
Representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, accompanied by actor Joey Pantoliano, visited Buffalo on Thursday to do a bit of public relations work.
“Our innovative leadership is at risk. It’s important that we keep that in mind as we move forward with health reform,” said Ken Johnson, senior vice president of communications and public affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Johnson and others, including officials from the state and regional biotech industries, spoke briefly in the new research building on Virginia Street that houses the University at Buffalo State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Center for Genetics and Pharmacology.
Their presentation centered on a handful of themes — a reminder of the growing economic importance of pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in the state, especially Western New York; an attempt to draw the connections between the traditional pharmaceutical industry giants and small start-up companies looking to build on promising innovations; and expressions of concern about potential changes to health-related regulations and policy as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office.
The officials offered a handful of association reports about new therapies, including a recent one that reported that more than 2,000 medications for older Americans are currently being tested in clinical trials or are waiting Food and Drug Administration approval.
“Early-stage development turns into business opportunities for universities. This, in turn, creates other business opportunities and jobs, and grows the economy,” said Nathan Tinker, executive director of the state Biotech Association.
In the Buffalo area, a fledgling life sciences industry has grown slowly over the years, a large portion of it now concentrated on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
“Now, with the hospitals coming together, we have the possibility of seeing the development of a world-class medical facility,” said Thomas Stewart, president of Gaymar Industries and chairman of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Life Science Industries Council.
The presentation also included Pantoliano, whose better- known credits include such films as “The Matrix.” He also played Ralphie Cifaretto on the television series “The Sopranos.”
He speaks regularly about his depression, as well as its treatment, and has founded the organization “No Kidding, Me Too,” which hopes to help remove the stigma associated with mental illness.
The organization’s Web site is www.nkm2.org .
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