Senate Passes 'BioShield' Bill
Wed May 19, 2004 08:46 PM ET
By Joanne Kenen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation to encourage drug and vaccine makers to find ways to counter a potentially devastating bioterror attack cleared the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.
The $5.6 billion, 10-year Project BioShield, approved on a 99-0 vote, expands public sector and private research incentives and guarantees a market for treatments, antidotes and vaccines that otherwise may not find a commercial niche.
"We have to put the threat in context, and regrettably the context is serious," said New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, a lead sponsor of the bill and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee.
Article: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=5198458