Today marks the beginning of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month and we are proud to join with our member companies in celebrating our support for the LGBT community. We recognize that inclusion and diversity fuels collaboration, trust to make the next leap into biomedical research and fosters an openness to tackling old problems with new ideas.
For the biopharmaceutical industry employees and the patients we seek to help, consideration of each person’s unique contributions fuel the work we do day in and day out.
Below are just some of the initiatives being led by our members to celebrate and advance diversity in biopharmaceutical science:
- Astellas has created an employee resource group called Together As One (TAO). TAO’s mission is to foster an inclusive and supportive work environment that allows members of Astellas’ LGBTQA community to be their whole selves at work, embodying the spirit of One Astellas.
- Biogen’s original “Out at Work” campaign encourages its employees to be out and open in the workplace to foster collaboration, communication and career growth. Biogen’s view of diversity and inclusion expands to their patients, researchers, medical teams and supply chain.
- Eli Lilly and Company’s corporate and Lilly Field PRIDE created a reverse mentoring program that matches senior leaders with LGBT employees as mentors. This helps educate the leaders about LGBT issues in the workplace.
- Pfizer established a Colleague Resource Group to help drive the company’s mission and values to position Pfizer among the world’s leading companies for LGBT equality and inclusion. Pfizer also supports LGBT teens and senior citizens through programs like a youth mentoring program with Harvey Milk High School, a NYC public school, and through Pfizer’s healthy aging campaign—Get Old—in partnership with SAGE to support the health care challenges faced by aging LGBT people.
And in honor of Pride Month, PhRMA is a proud sponsor of the DC Front Runners Pride Run on June 9th benefiting the Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarship and SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders).
PhRMA and our member companies are proud to celebrate our LGBT colleagues and patients and their important contributions to the drug development process.
Andrew Powaleny
Andrew Powaleny is the Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs at PhRMA, where he leads communications on scientific, regulatory and intellectual property issues, highlighting the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts in developing innovative medicines and vaccines while promoting an environment that encourages necessary risk-taking. For five years starting in 2019, he launched and led PhRMA’s grassroots initiative, Voters for Cures, bringing patients and caregivers together to advocate for access to medicine and biopharmaceutical innovation. He also co-founded and co-chaired PRIDE Umbrella, a resource group for LGBTQ+ individuals. Prior to joining PhRMA in 2015, Andrew worked as a communications consultant in Washington, D.C., and as Deputy Press Secretary for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce under Chairman Fred Upton. He holds a degree in public policy and government from Eastern Connecticut State University, with a minor in music. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys exercise, musical theater and mentoring college students through The Fund for American Studies alumni association.
Andrew Powaleny
Staffing up: Building the future biopharma workforce to keep America in the lead
Nearly 80 researchers advocate on Capitol Hill
Congratulations to our 2026 Working for Cures Employee Champions
Manufacturing U.S. jobs and breakthroughs
Historic biopharmaceutical investments: A prescription for America’s future
Bringing to life the full story of biopharmaceutical innovation and investments
From sound to science: How IP powers innovation in music and hearing
Recognizing the value of disease prevention with Dr. Len Friedland from GSK
Congratulations to our 2024 Working for Cures Employee Champions
The importance of partnership: A conversation with Takeda
New research: American biopharmaceutical investment in R&D drives transformational innovation
The future of oncology R&D lies in policymakers’ hands
More than 60 researchers advocate on Capitol Hill
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month: A conversation with Biogen
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month: A conversation with Eisai
Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month: A conversation with Eli Lilly and Company
Powering the next generation of therapies: A conversation with Astellas US President Mark Reisenauer
Congratulations to our 2023 Working for Cures Employee Champions
Watch: Putting patients front and center for World AIDS Day
New Report: 1,600 cancer treatments and vaccines in clinical development
Watch: New video series spotlights advances in biopharmaceutical science
New report shows high-impact R&D happens after cancer medicines are first approved
More than 60 researchers ask Congress to support innovation
Biopharmaceutical science powered by PRIDE
Addressing Mental Health: A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
World IP Day 2023: Celebrating women leaders in innovation
What we’ve learned from three years of fighting COVID-19
WTAS: Inflation Reduction Act already impacting R&D decisions
Sparking conversations — and careers — at the 2nd annual Pathways to Success Summit
Stories from the lab: Researchers discuss innovative treatments for cancers of the blood
Congratulations to our 2022 Working for Cures Employee Champions
Protecting against influenza: A conversation with David Ross, Vice President, Commercial Operations, North America, CSL Seqirus
An open letter to Congress: Stand with patients and future cures
PhRMA member companies’ R&D investments reach record high of $102.3 billion in 2021
Biopharmaceutical researchers to discuss the value of R&D with Congress
A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
Stephanie Dyson of BMS on reducing health disparities
Biopharmaceutical industry drives economic growth in all 50 states
Guest post: Joining forces to combat the COVID-19 mental health crisis
Upcoming graduate student summit will showcase pathways to success within the biopharmaceutical industry
Guest Series: PhRMA talks racial and health equity with Lauren Powell, VP US Health Equity and Community Wellness, Takeda
Industry leaders discuss the impact of the drug pricing debate
PhRMA member companies’ R&D investments reach record high of $91.1 billion in 2020
Watch: Building trust and enhancing clinical trial diversity
Building a better health care system: A conversation with Mark Reisenauer, President of Astellas US
Researchers to shine light on biopharmaceutical R&D with policymakers
Key takeaways: PhRMA comments to USPTO on how to make the innovation ecosystem more diverse and inclusive
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Perreault, CEO and Managing Director of CSL
Guest post: PhRMA talks racial and health equity with Stephanie Dyson, Head of Office at Biogen
Report highlights biopharmaceutical industry’s commitment to D&I
Guest Post: Bringing our best to the fight against COVID-19
An unprecedented year and the road ahead: A conversation with Giovanni Caforio, PhRMA Chairman and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Peter Anastasiou, Executive Vice President of Lundbeck
New Report: The biopharmaceutical industry’s sustained commitment to inspiring and advancing tomorrow’s STEM workforce
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Alexander Hardy, CEO of Genentech
Leading researchers to spotlight the critical role of biopharmaceutical R&D
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Ramona Sequeira, President of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Albert Bourla, Chairman & CEO of Pfizer, Inc.
Guest Post: How proactivity and planning helped Novartis ensure a stable supply of medicines during COVID-19
PhRMA member companies invested $83 billion in research and development last year
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi
Three ways the pharmaceutical industry can positively impact health equity
ICYMI: The latest as America’s biopharmaceutical companies work to beat COVID-19
New report explores setbacks that bring future cancer success stories
In combating COVID-19, science is how we get back to normal
Guest Post: Takeda seeks ‘new normal’ for cancer research during the COVID-19 pandemic
Guest Post: What will we learn from COVID-19?
Lilly, Merck and Pfizer empower team members to volunteer on COVID-19 frontlines
To the millions affected by COVID-19
Merck’s Dr. Julie Gerberding on the threat of antimicrobial resistance and COVID-19
The biopharmaceutical industry’s unique role in responding to COVID-19
ICYMI: America’s biopharmaceutical companies are working 'around the clock' to beat coronavirus
COVID-19 Response: Supporting the frontline
Guest post: Looking out for the invisibly vulnerable in the time of COVID-19
America’s biopharmaceutical companies are working around the clock to beat coronavirus
Guest post: Takeda’s efforts to address COVID-19
ICYMI: America’s biopharmaceutical companies are taking on COVID-19
ICYMI: Continued biopharmaceutical action on COVID-19
Working together to combat coronavirus
The journey to better health care requires a holistic view
Helping those affected by the 2017 hurricane season
Guest Post: The importance of a modern FDA in drug discovery
Exploring the new era of medicine
Guest Post: Johnson and Johnson is celebrating outstanding scientists: Who will be next?
Watch: Biomarkers in drug development with Dr. Bernie Zeiher
Celebrating PRIDE in biopharmaceutical science
PhRMA Member Company
Celebrating PRIDE in biopharmaceutical science
Celebrating PRIDE in biopharmaceutical science