From GMP to GBP* – Fostering Good Bioethics Practices
Among the European Biotechnology Industry

*GMP to GBP - Good Management Practices to Good Bioethical Practices

With a growing need for European-wide bioethical standards, creating dialogue within the biotechnology industry and society as a whole has become an essential task of our project.

The Bioethical Practices project aims to improve understanding and consistence of bioethical standards across the industries. It focuses on understanding daily industrial practices, elaborating clear and independent positions based on regularly updated scientific and technological data to a wide audience. In addition, the project gives biotechnology companies opportunity to listen to social concerns and for the public to get an insight into questions triggered by daily practices of biotech companies, particularly SMEs.

The project is co-funded by the EU Commission under the 6^th Framework Research Programme. The project is coordinated by France Biotech with partners SwedenBio, E-Bio – the Estonian Biotechnology Association, HBA – Hungarian Association for Biotechnology, Asebio – the Spanish Biotech Association and EuropaBio – the EU Bioindustry association as well as the French National institute for Health and Medical research (Inserm) through the involvement of the “Genomics and public health: interdisciplinary approach” Team at Inserm U 558, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse and of the societal platform of the Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées Genopole, both directed by Dr Anne Cambon-Thomsen.

Project information sheet:
From Good Manufacturing Practices to Good Bioethical Practices.
 

Bioethical Practices Survey

Creating a strong dialogue with Europe’s biotech industries, in the autumn of 2007 the project surveyed companies to learn about contemporary bioethical concerns, positions and practices.
The questionnaire was distributed to 100 of the most innovative companies working in the following areas:

- Cell and Gene Therapies
- Stem Cells
- NanoBiotech
- BioBank
- Diagnostics

View the Survey Questions & Preliminary Survey Results

 

Workshops & Conferences

The Bioethical Practices Project includes two extensive conferences. The first Bioethics conference was held in December 2007, and the second conference will take place at the end of 2008 and incorporate an overarching presentation of the complete Bioethical Practices Project and its results. If you are interested in attending or would like to receive further information on any of the events, do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail: a.farrelly@europabio.org

1^st Bioethics Conferences (December 2007)

The first Bioethics Conference, on “Good Bioethical Practices”, took place in Brussels December 4^th, 2007. It was organized by SwedenBio in association with other biotechnology associations and the French National institute for Health and Medical research (Inserm).  The conference included presentations and discussion on bioethical topics and issues involving biobanks, gene and cell therapies, stem cells and genetic testing that European SMEs come face to face with in their businesses.  For a copy of the preliminary report, Agenda and all the presentations given at the conference, please click on the links below.

The conference helped respond to the need to promote and increase a dialogue between companies within the biotechnology industry and society as a whole. The conference enabled biotechnology companies and stakeholders involved in the industry the opportunity to listen to the concerns of society but also it enabled the public to get an insight into the questions arising from the daily practices of biotech companies particularly SMEs.

Overview of the 1^st BioEthics Conference

Brussels, December 4^th 2007
(In partnership with biotechnology associations
from the Member States, Inserm and EuropaBio.)

Copy of Preliminary Report:
 

BioEthics Conference

Brussels, December 4th 2007

- in partnership with biotechnology associations from the Member States,
Inserm and EuropaBio.

Date: December 4th 2007
Time: 8.30 – 19.00
Location: Residence Palace, Malbeek Room Rue de la Loi 155 Brussels, Belgium

Draft Agenda

Presentations

Introduction of the project

Presentation of the ongoing survey
Anne Cambon-Thomsen and Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag, INSERM

Panel discussion I: Informed consent and personal data – Biobanking and clinical trials

• Presentation of Workshop on Biobanks – Karin Aase, SwedenBIO

• Regulatory overview, Issues and practices in Biobanking – Emmanuelle Rial-Sebbag, INSERM

• Clinical trials – Jean Pierre Girre, Innate Pharma

Panel discussion II: Gene and Cell Therapy – chair EuropaBio

• Presentation of Workshop on Gene and Cell Therapy – Emilio Muñoz, Asebio

• Presentation from Workshop on Stem cells – Maarika Merirand, Estonian Biotech

• Regulatory overview – Maurizio Salvi, EGE Secretariat, European Commission

Panel discussion III: Genetic testing – chair Angelita de Francisco, France Biotech

• Presentation from France Biotech Summer University on Bioethics – Florence Lazard, France Biotech

• Regulatory overview, Issues and practices in genetic testing – Anne Cambon-Thomsen, INSERM