Let’s go to the videotape. Actually, it’s the TV screen.

Ted Kennedy was supposed to be one of two live keynote luncheon speakers at BIO today, but the senator is, instead, remaining in Washington DC, where debate continues on renewing the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. A vote is due this week, and Ted canceled at the last minute (He’s still listed in this morning’s BIO Show Daily handout as one of today’s highlights).

Of course, this is a disappointment for the BIO crowd. Even though there is concern that Kennedy’s legislation will eventually carry an amendment for reimportation or a two-year ban on DTC ads on new drugs, his bill doesn’t call for a separate FDA drug-safety office. And Kennedy is also circulating a generic biologics bill that largely parallels industry’s view of the issue.

But Ted is giving the same talk - he’s on the big screen being shown to the thousands who showed up for the luncheon. Not surprisingly, he’s talking up his drug-safety bill. “My door is always open to you and I welcome your views as our deliberations continue,” he tells the throng.

The lunchtime crowd will hear from Michael J. Fox, the actor who heads a Parkinson’s disease research foundation.
[tags]BIO, PDUFA, Ted Kennedy[/tags]