SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) today issued the following statement from CLSA President & CEO Sara Radcliffe regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 463. CLSA is the leading voice to drive innovation for California's life sciences sector, serving over 750 life sciences organizations across California.
"As innovators in the life sciences sector dedicated to the development of treatments and cures for patients across multiple disease states and levels, we have serious concerns about AB 463, the so-called Pharmaceutical Cost Transparency Act of 2016.
"AB 463 creates needless bureaucratic obstacles that could prevent patient access to necessary treatments. Under this proposal, medical research, investment and innovation would be stifled by procedural red tape. We need a healthcare system that prioritizes patients and recognizes the clinical and economic value to patients and the healthcare system provided by exciting new, life-saving medications that are providing new hope for millions of Americans.
"Continued development of new medicines is an essential part of the solution to improving healthcare for all, transforming patient care, and lowering overall healthcare costs. More government bureaucracy is not the answer. This bill is simply a relabeled version of the measure that failed to get a vote in committee after two hearings last year."
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About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)
California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the leading voice for California's life sciences sector. We work closely with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to shape public policy, drive business solutions and grow California's life sciences innovation ecosystem. CLSA serves over 750 biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged to create the state's most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.