Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, February 11, 2020) — PhRMA member companies’ global research and development leaders issued the following statement on the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts to address the novel coronavirus public health emergency:

“For the past several weeks, the world has watched with growing concern as more information has become available on the rapidly evolving coronavirus outbreak.

“As leaders of global R&D organizations within the biopharmaceutical industry and as scientists, physicians and public health professionals, we share the concern over this serious global public health threat. We stand in solidarity with patients and medical colleagues in China and around the world as we race to understand and contain this new outbreak.

“The global biopharmaceutical industry is devoting our expertise, resources and capabilities to identify science-based solutions and medical treatments to combat this threat. For example, several companies have begun or accelerated development of vaccines and antiviral therapies. Members of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem, along with government and academic experts and charitable organizations, are all working around the clock to identify and develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat this deadly infectious disease. Further details will be communicated soon.”

About PhRMA

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $900 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $79.6 billion in 2018 alone.