Scott and Bilirakis Seek to Spur Innovation in Health Care
Land O’Lakes, Fla. — As part of their ongoing commitment to improving access and quality of care within the health care system, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Congressman Gus Bilirakis hosted a critical conversation with biotechnology industry leaders in the Tampa Bay area. With a focus on streamlining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) processes to facilitate development of more effective treatments and cures, the lawmakers toured one of the nation’s most prestigious new biotech hubs at Moffitt Cancer Center’s burgeoning Speros FL campus. The lawmakers also met with industry leaders to discuss the challenges that exist when bringing new products and treatments to market. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average cost of doing so in the United States is $2.8 billion, with an estimated timeframe of 10 to 15 years. Sen. Scott and Congressman Bilirakis will explore ways to incentivize additional innovation in health care, produce faster and more efficient treatments in the pipeline and cut bureaucratic red tape to reduce costs for patients with complex conditions.
Senator Rick Scott said, “It was great to be at the new Moffitt Speros campus in Land O’ Lakes today with Congressman Gus Bilirakis and see innovation in healthcare in action. As Florida’s Governor and U.S. Senator, I’ve fought hard to make the Sunshine State a leader in cancer treatment and disease research. Moffitt is a huge partner in that work to provide families with access to affordable, world-class care and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
“With millions of Americans suffering from debilitating conditions and health care costs continuing to rise, we must continually seek ways to improve patient outcomes through the accelerated development of more effective treatments and cures,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis, senior member of the Health Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Technological advancements such as cell and gene therapies hold great promise for life-changing breakthroughs in health care. We want to harness that potential by removing unnecessary bureaucratic roadblocks that stymie innovation and increase costs, all while maintaining the highest safety standards. I appreciated the input of local stakeholders and national health care leaders about strategies we can employ to achieve these goals. I was also particularly impressed by the collaborative, interdisciplinary approach Moffitt is using to help spur innovation in healthcare. I’m confident that Speros will be home to many critical breakthroughs for cancer and other diseases while also serving as a supportive environment for cancer patients to receive cutting-edge, individualized treatment.”
“We are laser-focused on bringing groundbreaking cancer therapies to our patients and saving more lives today and tomorrow. Speros will help us accelerate discoveries in cell and gene therapies, immunotherapies and more to deliver leading oncology care,” said Patrick Hwu, M.D., president and CEO of Moffitt.
For photos of the visit, click here.